St Paul Cathedral

Vigan


This church was built in ‘earthquake baroque’ style (ie thick-walled and massive) after an earlier incarnation was damaged by quakes in 1619 and 1627. The construction of the original wooden, thatched church is believed to have been supervised by Juan de Salcedo, lieutenant governor of the Ilocos region, in 1574.

The brass communion handrails were made in China, and faint Chinese characters can be seen where the rails connect to the building. The octagonal design of the church is supposedly rooted in feng shui design principles.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Vigan attractions

1. Museo San Pablo

The Museo San Pablo, behind the altar of St Paul Cathedral, is a good place to see old santos (religious statues). Make sure to have a look at the…

2. Magic Fountain

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Every night at 7.30pm during peak tourist season, the fountain in the middle of Plaza Salcedo bursts into a music and light show. It gets crowded and is…

3. Mestizo District

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The Mestizo District, or Kasanglayan ('where the Chinese live'), is a grid of streets hemmed in between Plaza Burgos and Liberation Blvd and bisected by…

4. Padre José Burgos National Museum

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Built in 1788, this museum is in the ancestral home of Father José Burgos, one of the three martyr priests executed by the Spanish in 1872. It houses an…

5. Syquia Mansion Museum

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The Syquia Mansion is filled with old furniture and exhibits dedicated to the life of Vigan native Elpidio Quirino, the Philippines’ sixth president…

6. Quema House

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Beautifully preserved mansion, not open to the public.

7. Crisologo Museum

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The Crisologos, Vigan’s most prominent political dynasty, have converted their ancestral home into this strangely compelling family shrine. In addition to…

8. Pottery Factories

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Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, Chinese settlers pioneered a still-active pottery industry. You can visit a couple of pottery factories on Gomez St…