Vigan

About

Vigan was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century, though it had long been used by Chinese traders who came to trade goods from the Asian mainland for gold, beeswax, and other indigenous products. While the city developed as a Spanish Colonial town, it was strongly influenced by the Chinese, Ilocano, and Filipino cultures that lived here strongly influenced its architecture. Today, the city’s historic center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage as the best-preserved Spanish colonial town in Asia. Centered around the pedestrian-only Crisologo St., Vigan’s two-storey, steep-roofed buildings made from wood and brick are reminiscent of traditional Chinese architecture. A great starting point for exploring Vigan’s historic streets is the turn-of-the-19th-century St. Paul’s Cathedral, which sits between the two main plazas – Plaza Salcedo and Plaza Burgos.