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In Spain, it was called Nueva Segovia, but to the Spaniards in resident,
they called it Cuidad Fernandina O' Vigan. To the Chinese of Fookien Province
who settled here, it was called Pariancillo, or Parian for short. I wonder
why they did not call it Ciudad de Salcedo, after the 27 years old
conguistador, named Don Juan Salcedo, who by virtue of being the grandson of
Miguel Lopez de Lagaspi, the then Governor General of the Philippines, put
this little island on the world map. "Criterion (ii): Vigan represents a unique fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning." Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines and from China with those from Europe to create a unique culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia. "PLAZA ZALCEDO"
We started the tour at Plaza Zalcedo, just in front of
St. Paul's Cathedral.
Click on Image for larger View.
"ST. PAUL's CATHEDRAL"
Built in 1541, this church became a cathedral when the seat of the
Diocese of Nueva Segovia Click on Image for larger View.
Click on Image for larger View.
"ENTRANCE TO THE HERITAGE HOUSES" Vigan Plaza Hotel just before entering Crisologo Street. Click on Image for larger View.
"CRISOLOGO STREET" The street lamplight is unique in Castillian architecture as seen in over 150 stone and brick houses in the old Mestizo district. Click on Image for larger View.
"CRISOLOGO STREET" With these narrow streets, it is easy to imagine a bustling cosmopolitan of merchants, traders, and government officals doing business of the day. Click on Image for larger View.
"CRISOLOGO STREET" Even of todays standard, these houses are massive in stature. Some of them are turned into cozy inns, museums and souvenir shops. Click on Image for larger View.
"CRISOLOGO STREET" We came into one antique shop that specializes in iron works. Click on Image for larger View.
SILANG STREET" At Silang Street, we came up to a potpuorri of laundry colors hanged outside to dry up. Click on Image for larger View.
V. de los REYES STREET" Peeling plasters expose massive bricks with red tiled roofs and imposing windows and doorways. Click on Image for larger View.
"V. de los REYES STREET" Inside, are grand staircases, broad narra floorboards and piedra china. Click on Image for larger View.
"V. de los REYES STREET" Sliding capiz windows and ventanillas and cool azotea reflect the artistic and technological craftsmanship of the 18th and 19th century. Click on Image for larger View.
"V. de los REYES STREET"
Most of the houses on this street are occupied. Business is conducted on the ground floor, Click on Image for larger View.
"V. de los REYES STREET" We discovered this chic restaurant within the ruins of V. de los Reyes Street. Click on Image for larger View.
"V. de los REYES STREET" Here, the solid structure of the houses are very evident. The lower storey is stone-built, and the upper storey is timber framed, and plastered inside and out. Click on Image for larger View.
"V. de los REYES STREET" In their time, these are shop-houses, and true to its legacy, they are still used for the same purpose. Click on Image for larger View.
"V. de los REYES STREET" Renovation is the name of the game today, since the old town was declared as a Historical Centre thru successive Presidential Decree that began in 1975. Click on Image for larger View.
"CRISOLOGO STREET" At the corner of Crisologo and Gen Luna is a renovated Cordillera Inn. Click on Image for larger View.
Click on Image for larger View.
"PLARIDEL & CRISOLOGO" These were taken at the fork entrance of the Historical Centre between Crisologo Street and Plaridel Street at the east side of the Cathedral. Click on Image for larger View.
Click on Image for larger View.
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