Events and Culture

One of the country’s oldest Augustinian churches, the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul (more commonly known as Vigan Cathedral) is a UNESCO World Heritage site which started out as a chapel made of wood and thatch in 1578. It was constructed upon the orders of Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo. The Cathedral was a witness to several historical events, such as the takeover of revolutionaries led by Col. Juan Villamor in 1896 and by American forces in 1899. Its architecture is an example of Spanish colonial Baroque architecture with Chinese influences seen in some of the fixtures.

Named after Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo, the public park is famous for being the site where Filipina revolutionary leader Gabriela Silang was executed by public hanging. Today, the park bustles with local attractions: The majestic Vigan Cathedral, a statue of Filipino National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, and dancing fountains which come alive with a light and water display in front of the cathedral at night.

This family-run restaurant serves traditional Filipino recipes as much sa it serves a heritage experience. Nestled in a traditional Filipino home, Mesa de Amor offers traditional Filpino recipes and modern dishes for dine-in, private functions, and milestone gatherings.

Declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museeum of the Philippines, the St. Catherine Alexandria Parish (The Shrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan) or Namacpacan Church was named after the town's patronness. A statue of Our Lady Apo Baket of Namacpacan is believed to be miraculous and serves as a popular pilgrimage point of interest for believers. The church was also formerly known as Luna Church after the municipality.

Formerly known as the Grand Provincial Auditorium in the 1930s, the Sison Auditorium was named after the late governor Teofilo Sison. The refurbished neoclassical auditorium was inaugurated in 2010 and now serves as a grand venue for cultural activities and events.

The Capitol Tour takes guests on an enriching tour around the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol. The Capitol's neoclassical architectural design, which was originally built in 1917 and reinforced and renovated throughout the years, was named as one of the Architectural Treasures of the Philippines by the National Commission for Culture and Arts.

Located within the Lingayen Capitol Complex, the Veterans Memorial Park serves as a tribute to the fallen heroes of World War II. Its main attraction is the Lingayen Gulf Landing Shrine, and features WWII relics such as Cessna planes, fighter jets used during the war, and dioramas that depict the events leading up to the historic gulf landing.

Limahong Channel is a mandmade channel said to have been dug by Chinese pirate Limahong, also known as Ah Hong, who was believed to have created the passage together with his 200 men to escape the Spanish.

Bustria Salt Farm offers a one-of-a-kind experience for those who wish to see how the famous Dasol salt is made. At around three o' clock in the afternoon, the salt farmers begin to scrape the salty solution in the brick-lined salt ponds using specialized equipment made mostly with native materials. The mesmerizing sight is composed of different generations of farmers, some having worked on the farm for decades and some being teenagers who join in on the raking process to assist the elders until they fill all their woven baskets with the high-quality salt. During the rainy season, the ponds are converted into fish ponds.

The lighthouse is a historical landmark perched on a hill that offers stunning 360-degree views of the ocean and the Bolinao municipality. It is the second-highest lighthouse in the Philippines, standing at around 351 feet above sea level. It was built in the early 1900s by Filipino, British and American engineers.