|
Vigan features arguably the finest examples of Spanish colonial architecture in the Philippines. Unlike its Manila counterpart, Intramuros, Vigan emerged relatively unscathed from the ravages of war.
The city was founded late in the 16th Century by Juan de Salcedo, a grandson of Legazpi, the great Spanish colonizer, and rapidly became the largest center of Spanish influence in Northern Luzon. Numerous old colonial houses are found in the city center, particularly in the Kamestizoan District.
Other important churches include Sta. Lucia Church, with its tiny image of the dark Virgin, and Sinait Church, which houses the 17th Century image of the Black Nazarene, found floating in a sealed casket off the coast of Sinait. Both images are believed to have miraculous powers.
The National Museum is situated at the house of national hero, Padre Jose Burgos, who was executed by the Spanish for his role in the independence movement. The Cathedral of St. Paul was built in 1641 and is one of the largest places of worship in the country. The main handicraft of Vigan is pottery, in particular, the making of large water containers.
FOR MORE INFO
|
