Vigan
For those in search of what the Philippines looked like in Spanish colonial times, Vigan is the place to go.
With its ancient Spanish mansions, its cobblestone streets and the clip-clop of the the horse-drawn carriages (kalesa), Vigan is the best preserved Spanish town in the Philippines.
Vigan has been registered with UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Vigan was already an established city and trading post before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. In pre-colonial times, Vigan used to trade with merchants from other Asian countries, including China.
In 1572 Captain Juan de Salcedo marched with 72 soldiers to Vigan and established a Spanish city there, known as "Villa Fernandina de Vigan". The city had three neighborhoods: one for the indigenous (local) population, one for Chinese migrants, and one for Spanish settlements.
Vigan has a proud place in Filipino history, for here was the birthplace of several national heroes, such as Diego Silang and his wife Gabriela, who fought against Spanish rule.
Some interesting places to visit:
-- Crisologo Street
-- St Paul's Cathedral
-- Archbishop's Palace
-- Ayala Museum
-- Pottery Workshops
-- Villa Angela