Set on lovely manicured grounds surrounded by sugar plantations, the RUINS is an early-20th-century Italianate mansion originally built by a local sugar magnate in honour of his deceased wife. During WWII, US soldiers set it on fire to prevent the advancing Japanese army from occupying it. Three days later, after the fire subsided, only a haunting skeletal concrete frame remained. If you visit at sunset, its neoclassical columns and stately carved arches make fantastic photographic backdrops.

There is an outdoor cafe and an Italian restaurant adjacent. Located 7km north of Bacolod, it's a 10-minute taxi from the airport (P250) or downtown (P200). Otherwise catch a 'Bata' jeepney from Lacson St and ask to be dropped off nearby; it’s then a P15 tricycle ride.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Capitol Park & Lagoon

3.07 MILES

The city's central gathering place is worth a stroll, particularly on weekends when it's a popular picnic spot. Bring some food for the resident tilapia.

2. Negros Forests & Ecological Foundation

3.17 MILES

A zoo with a difference, this foundation seeks to preserve endangered animals endemic to Negros. It houses mostly birds, including an extraordinary…

3. Negros Museum

3.19 MILES

Houses an eclectic collection, from a room dedicated to the sugar industry to one containing toys from around the world. Don't miss the fake cannons used…

4. San Sebastian Cathedral

3.6 MILES

Worth a look is this impressive 19th-century cathedral built from coral stone (quarried from Guimaras) across from the city's central plaza. It's…

5. Silay Museum

6.27 MILES

Start your tour with this well-done, succinct overview of the town's history, using models, gowns from the sugar era and vintage photos of historic homes.

6. Balay Negrense Museum

6.29 MILES

Also known as the Victor Gaston Ancestral Home (1898), this hardwood home has the most photogenic exterior of any house in Silay. The house has been…

7. Church of San Diego

6.29 MILES

On the main road through town, the silver-domed, Romanesque Church of San Diego (1927) is topped by a crucifix that, when lit at night, is visible far out…

8. Bernardino Jalandoni Ancestral House

6.39 MILES

Known as the 'Pink House' (1908), this museum looks like the owner left yesterday. In the back room are old photos of beauty-pageant winners from the…