Vigan City found in Ilocos Sur is one place that can bring you back to the rich history of the Philippines. As soon as you step in to the city, you’d feel transported to a different era. The city is the only left colonial city in the Philippines. Vigan was able to preserve the ancestral homes, churches, historical landmarks and roads that were built during the Spanish colonization in the 18th and 19th century. This city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its preservation of the establishments built during the Spanish colonial times of the country.
Vigan has been a common location for television shows and movies. Most of the movies shot in the city are usually about the Spanish era. An international and award-winning film was even shot here which was the Born on the Fourth of July.
There were many legends as to how Vigan got its name. There was a legend that says Vigan got its name when the Chinese settlers of the city called the city as Bee Gan which means Beautiful Shore in Hokkien. Another legend says that a Spaniard asked a local about the name of the place. The local not understanding what the Spaniard asked and only saw that he was seemingly pointing to a tree said that the tree is called Bigaa Apo. The name Vigan was then derived from Bigaa.
The original settlers of the city are the traders that came from the Fujian Province of China. The city was an important trading post during the pre-colonial period. Filipinos would trade gold beeswax and other products from the Cordillera in exchange for exotic Asian goods. A lot of the Chinese traders decided to settle in the city and lived in the mestizo district.
When the Spaniards came to conquer and colonize the country, the city grew and became a center for Spanish religious and political power in the North. This led to the development of the town which features architectural elements of Oriental and European cultures.
The city offers many tourist destinations to both local and foreign tourist. Most of the tourist attractions in the city are the ancestral homes, museums such as the Burgos National Museum and Crisologo Museum and other historical landmarks that tell the story of the Ilocanos during the Spanish era. You can even travel and commute all over the city in a calesa, or a horse-drawn carriage. You can walk down the cobblestones streets of Vigan and experience the Spanish era.
Aside from the historical places found in the city, the Baluarte which is the governor’s fortress is also a good tourist attraction. This has a mini zoo that houses several exotic animals plus you can get to ride in mini horses. The empanadas of Vigan are a must try, your journey to the Spanish colonial city won’t be complete without a taste of their delicacy.
Vigan is a perfect place that can fully describe the lifestyle of the people who lived during the Spanish era. This place is a must-visit place for both local and foreign tourists, it has an old-world charm that’s impossible to resist.