Tuguegarao

About

Tuguegarao was founded in 1604 as a mission center, and by 1841 had grown to become the provincial capital. During World War II, the city was the target of heavy Allied bombing as it was being used as a base and airfield by the Japanese. While this destroyed most of the city, some historic buildings survived, including the 18th century Sts. Peter and Paul Metropolitan Cathedral. The church’s red-brick facade is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the Philippines, and even has a photograph hanging in Vatican City. Even older is the St. Hyacinth Church, which dates back to the city’s founding in 1604, though it’s had to be rebuilt on a few occasions. History and culture lovers will want to pay a visit to the Cagayan Provincial Museum and Historical Research Center, which exhibits everything from ethnographic artefacts to fossils - there’s even an extensive exhibition on the discovery of Callao Man.