Return to Ilocandia | Revisiting the Heritage Province of Ilocos Sur

Walking along the cobblestone roads and looking at the colonial stone houses in an old heritage city give us the feeling of going back to the past. It is also nostalgic seeing classic structures standing still until the contemporary time, which was preserved by the people, serving historical and cultural traces of the past in a certain town or city reflecting its local color.

In the commemoration of National Heritage Month 2025, let us explore and visit some of the cultural sites that reflect the traditions and history of the Ilocos Region.

The empty Calle Crisologo with classic and contemporary structures in a cobblestone street before sunrise.

The first stop in our tour for the first day is the historic city of Vigan. Known for its colonial houses preserved during the Spanish era with its classic architecture combined with European and Oriental influences, Belgian block roads, and the use of calesa as its mode of transportation, making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Cozy cafes and fast food chains inspired by Spanish-era architecture became main attractions in the city.

Calesa, a horse carriage during the Spanish era, is the most common mode of transportation.

Furthermore, the city has founded in 1572 by conquistador Juan de Salcedo and named it as "Villa Fernandina de Vigan" in honor of Prince Ferdinand, son of King Philip II of Spain. Vigan is also the birthplace of Leona Florentino, the mother of Philippine women's literature and Elpidio Quirino, the sixth president of the Philippines. 

Some buildings in Calle Crisologo need to undergo renovation due to damages done by earthquake.

Early morning sunrise at Calle Crisologo.

The memorial marker of Jose Burgos (left) located in Plaza Salcedo and the monument of Leona Florentino in Calle Crisologo (right).

There are many renovations are still ongoing after an earthquake struck in the city in 2022, resulting into damages in old structures such as various old houses in Calle Crisologo, Vigan Cathedral, and even the church and its bell tower in its neighboring town of Bantay.

The panoramic view of Bantay Bell Tower as seen from Bantay Church grounds.

Bantay Bell Tower.

Bantay is located few kilometers away from Vigan which was one of the early towns in Ilocos Sur founded in 1593. It is also the home of Bantay Church (Saint Augustine Church) that houses the image of Apo Caridad (Our Lady of Charity). Furthermore, the church and the belltower are some of the oldest structures in the province. However, the church and the belltower were struck by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake on 2022.

Bantay Bell Tower and the Foodmarks marker in Vigan.

There are still many heritage and historical sites in the province as we continue to explore it in the future and even revisiting the next destination - Ilocos Norte. 

Date of Travel: April 25, 2025