Traveloka PH
24 Nov 2017 - 7 min read
In case you aren't familiar with the Filipino delicacy, Longannisa is pork fat and meat encapsulated in pork intestine. While several provinces have their own vairants, Vigan reigns supreme with its salty variant that’s best paired with vinegar. You can take a bite out of this at Cafe Leona along Calle Crisologo.
Once you’ve gotten your stomach full, it’s time to burn off the longannisa with a stroll along Calle Crisologo! Lined with ancestral homes from the Spanish period, the cobble-stoned area is the only World Heritage City in the Philippines inscribed by UNESCO.
Filled with grated green papaya, bean sprouts, mono, shredded carrots, meat and egg, the street food is hard to miss when in Vigan. More often than not, you’ll find tourists and locals alike carrying this orange treat around. Tourists usually flock over to the Empanada Stalls at Plaza Burgos.
During the Spanish colonial period, the loom was a common fixture in local households. Using their hands and feet to operate the wooden loom, Filipinos used it to weave Ilocano textiles, helping produce patterned and plain cloths used for clothing or household items. Today, the practice is alive and well in less than five barangays in Ilocos Sur, which is why the government is making it a point to re-educate the younger generations about it. For your first stop, head over to Rowilda’s located at the second floor of Dominique Panela’s home. Having trained at the Design Center of the Philippines, he started the weaving business in 1975 and has a shop that neatly displays runners, placemats, messenger bags and more. You can then head over to the Vigan Public Market and Calle Crisologo where there are several more stalls that sell beautifully designed woven blankets, bags and more.
(photo via Instagram, @patrickjcparel)
A must-do when in Vigan is to head over to the Pagburnayan where burnay jars are made. These are handmade earthenware pots that are supposedly stronger than terracotta pots. What makes these pots so special is that not only is the locally-sourced clay stomped on by a carabao, but the pot is made on a manually-petaled rotating disk that requires to men to operate it. One guy spins the base with his foot, while the other molds and forms the pot.
While there is no shortage of museums or places that you can learn about Vigan’s heritage, another means you can do so is by taking a river cruise along Mestizo River. The 40-minute boat ride makes use of an audio guide to tell visitors about Vigan’s history, all the way back to when it was founded during the Spanish colonial period.
(photo via Instagram, @marieanneco)
Dubbed the Malacañang of the North, the Syquia Mansion was built in 1830. It was the former home of late President Elpidio Quirino and also served as a venue for several government meetings. It is a great example of a “bahay na bato”, a home built with a stone on the first floor. And the second floor built with wood.
Arce Mansion is another ancestral home turned museum - with a twist! While you can go around and enjoy the beautiful house with all its memorabilia from the Spanish occupation, what takes the cake is that you can actually dress up like individuals from days gone by.
Back to topEnjoy a fun experience and check out other tourist spots to visit, restaurants to try and more in Vigan. Discover cheap hotel deals and cheap flights from carriers like Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, and more with Traveloka!]]>