Visiting Vigan will take you back in time as you explore its cobblestone streets and view its majestic collection landmarks and architectural structures.
The Old Colonial Houses in Vigan – Philippines are of particular interest to tourists both locally and abroad because these give visitors a glimpse into the colorful Hispanic past of Ilocos Sur.
Location
The Old Colonial Houses in Vigan – Philippines are located in the province of Vigan, the capital city of Ilocos Sur. Vigan is situated along the western coasts of Luzon and is one of the many different old Hispanic towns in the country.
You can find the Old Colonial Houses in Vigan – Philippines along Calle Crisologo. The cobblestone streets are lined with these old colonial houses.
Getting There
The only way to visit the Old Colonial Houses in Vigan – Philippines is by taking a ride in horse-drawn carriages. These are available in the city and you can rent one out for an hour for approximately one hundred and fifty pesos.
You can also rent a horse-drawn carriage for an entire day to take you down the Hispanic town. A day-tour would cost about one thousand pesos.
However, these rates are negotiable. You can haggle for a discount as drivers are often accommodating to tourists when it comes to negotiating costs.
What to See
If you want to see the best Hispanic houses in the country, the place to visit is Vigan. Down Calle Crisologo, you can find the Old Colonial Houses in Vigan – Philippines, more than a hundred of them standing in their majestic splendor.
Some of there have been preserved since the time when the Spaniards colonized the country while others were restored to get them back into their original splendor.
Once you enter the Hispanic town, you will feel as if you have stepped back in time, especially if you are touring the sites via horse-drawn carriages.
Brief History
The Old Colonial Houses in Vigan – Philippines are also found in what is called as the Mestizo District. These ancestral houses were constructed mostly by traders of Chinese descent, using various architectural influences.
These houses are a combination of the province’s architectural style, Asian designs and Spanish architectural patterns. This being said, you will find that the Old Colonial Houses in Vigan – Philippines are quite apart from other old Spanish-style houses in other countries.
For this reason, it took some time for UNESCO to decide on whether or not to enlist the Old Colonial Houses in Vigan – Philippines as a World Heritage Site.
But after some time, UNESCO did declare the Old Colonial Houses in Vigan – Philippines as a World Heritage Site and as such are protected in that they must be preserved in their original state.
Cost
The cost to visit the Old Colonial Houses in Vigan – Philippines will be between one hundred and fifty pesos up to one thousand pesos, depending on the number of hours that you would be renting the carriage.
