Events and Culture

Vigan's loom-weaving rooms and pagburnayans (pottery barns) tell the story of Ilocos heritage through masterful craftsmanship. Vigan is also known for being the hometown of National Folk Artist Fidel Antiporda Go, who is a master of the burnayan (clay pottery) technique.

Calle Crisologo's cobblestone path evokes the rustic charm of old Ilocos. Lined with well-preserved Spanish-era structures and ancestral houses, Calle Crisologo lets visitors travel centuries back in time on foot or via a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage). It also has a good selection of local shops from where you can bring home a souvenir or two.

Bantay Bell Tower is one of Vigan's most iconic historical landmarks. Having been completed in 1591 as a watch tower, it is a magnificent piece of Spanish colonial architecture. In 1857, it was converted to a bell tower by the nearby local church.

Learn more about different animals in this fun resort and mini zoo and resort. Located within 100 fenced hectares of gently rolling hills and flat rails, the resort started out as the rest house for then-governor Chavit Singson. The resort grounds has a butterfly garden, a horse riding track, and live animals that range from reptiles to birds and more.

Formally known as the Saint Augustine Church, Paoay Church is a Roman Catholic church and UNESCO World Heritage Site that features Baroque-style Spanish colonial architecture that has survived several earthquakes throughout the years following its completion in 1710. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, and is near other tourist attractions such as the San Agustin Prayer Garden, the Old Convent, Arte Luna Art Gallery, and the Paseo de Paoay which has shops, restaurants, and exhibit halls.

This historical landmark is famous for being the former residence of former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. It was named after Malacañang Palace, which is the seat of Philippine government located in Metro Manila. It now houses a museum which overlooks serene Paoay Lake.

This coastal bridge in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte measures a whopping 1.3 kilometers long and connects the Maharlika Highway in Laoag to Cagayan Valley. Aside from connecting the Ilocos region to Cagayan Valley, the bridge has also become a tourist attraction because of its breathtaking panoramic views. It also has a nearby trail called Kalbario Trail which starts near the Kalbario-Patapat Natural Park.

Declared as National Cultural Treasures in 2015 under the serial inscription “Watchtowers of Ilocos Norte”, the watchtowers were built in
the 1850s as a vantage point for watching incoming invaders or attacks. Today, the ruins of the watchtowers as well as the tabacalera and nearby Currimao Lighthouse are still visible.

Also known as Faro Cabo Cape Bojeador, the Capo Bojeador Lighthouse is a National Treasure listed by the National Museum as one of the last Philippine Spanish Lighthouses. While some modifications have been made to the original structure completed in 1892, it remains operational and continues to guiding ships headed towards the Pacific Coast, the Babuyan Channel, the ports of Salomangue in Ilocos Sur, and Currimao.

This 17th-century piece of "Earthquake Baroque" architecture has earned the distinction for having withstood several earthquakes throughout time. It gets its name from how it was observed to be gradually sinking under its weight and into its sandy foundation over time. It stands 80 meters from St. William's Cathedral, and was built by local artisans using lime, sand, molasses, and the juice of a local plant known as "sablot".