Take a step back in time and visit some of the popular tourist attractions in Vigan City, one of the Philippines’ well-preserved Hispanic town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features cobblestone streets and beautiful Spanish-Colonial architecture, as well as these must-see sites:

Vigan Cathedralis the seat of the Nueva Sevogia Archdiocese and the burial place of Ilocano poet Leona Florentino. Here, you’ll also find a copy of the Miraculous Santo Cristo Milagroso, whose original counterpart is located in Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

The Archbishop Residence, situated next to the Vigan Cathedral, is actually the oldest, inhabited Archbishop’s home in the country. The building itself dates back to the 16th century and was completed after 7 years of construction. The residence features sliding capiz windows in a floral motif and houses a valuable collection of ecclesiastical objects from the region.

The Residence of Padre Burgos, one of the 3 Filipino priests martyred at Bagumbayan, is right behind the provincial capitol. Inside, visitors will find ethnic Tinggian art and Ilocano artifacts.

Plaza Salcedo, situated just in front of the Vigan Cathedral and near many hotels in Vigan City, was built to commemorate the greatness of conquistador Juan de Salcedo. This is also the place where the famous woman insurgent Gabriela Silang was hanged in 1763.

For those visiting Vigan with kids, take them to Baluarte in Salindeg. This mini-zoo features a variety of animals, which includes ostriches and tigers.

Pagburnayanis a barangay in Vigan where the famed Ilocano jar called burnay si produced. This jar is used for keeping and storing locally made vinegar, wine, and fish sauce. Tourists can visit factories that manufacture burnay using the age-old ways of making it, such as carabaos to knead clay and a foot-powered pottery wheel.

The Syquia Mansion in Vigan was the home of Elpidio Quirino, the 6th President of the Philippines.

Another ancestral home worth the visit is the house of the Crisologo family, which has been converted into a museum. The Crisologo Museum is home to a collection of memorabilia gathered by the family members. It also features original furnishings you’d find in a Spanish Era ancestral home in the Philippines.

And of course, one of the must-see locales in the province is the Vigan Heritage Village, or the Mestizo District. This area features cobblestone streets and a number of ancestral houses with their ancient tile roofs, balustrades, and hardwood floors. The roads here are lined with souvenir shops selling handmade crafts and exquisite wooden fixtures for the home that tourists can buy. Tourists can also hire a calesa or horse-drawn carriage to ride around the scenic village.