Mestizo District
Found in the City of Vigan, the Mestizo district is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Philippines. It contains the largest concentration of ancestral homes and other colonial-era architecture in the Philippines, built by Chinese merchants who settled in Vigan. The houses are still preserved and maintained by the Ilocos Sur Tourism Information Center. The district is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines.
St. Paul's Cathedral
Also known as the Vigan Cathedral, this church's most prominent feature is its separate belfry, built 15 meters away from the main structure. The structure was built in "earthquake baroque" style, meaning it has thick walls and buttresses that can sustain strong natural disasters.
Palacio de Arzobispado
The Palacio de Arzobispado, or the Archbishop's Palace, was built in 1783, and it served as the official residence of the Archbishop of Nueva Segovia. Currently it is the only surviving 18th century archbishop's residence in the Philippines. Inside it is the Museo Nueva Segovia, a museum which showcases archdiocesan archives, a throne room, antique portraits of bishops, manuscripts, and other religious artifacts from various colonial churches all over Ilocos Sur.
Burgos National Museum
The former residence of the martyr Padre Burgos, a member of the GOMBURZA priest triumvirate, is now a museum exhibiting various treasures and antiquities depicting the Ilocano culture and society. A display of Padre Burgos' memorabilia can also be found in the area.
Sta Maria Church
The Santa Maria Church was built on 1769 in the town of Santa Maria in Ilocos Sur. The church was built for Our Lady Of The Assumption and it was built on top of a hill. They say that they built the church there because a long time ago a statue of the Virgin Mary from another place would disappear and find itself perched on a guava tree which was on top of this hill.
Baluarte Vigan - Fortress of Vigan
The Baluarte or fortress is a must-see attraction for first time visitors, and even for those who have visited Vigan before. The reasons for its being on the list of places to visit are two. First is that it has a mini zoo with animals from other countries and others endemic to the Philippines. It is a private collection and is therefore continuously being improved. The second reason is that it is owned by Mr. Chavit Singson, a well-loved son of Vigan and well-known to most Filipinos and foreigners who follow the Philippine political scene.
