On the third day, we visited the famous Calle Crisologo, The Bantay Bell Tower and Vigan's Hidden Garden.
Calle Crisologo
You haven't been to Vigan then set on foot at Calle Crisologo. Walking along of Calle Crisologo in Vigan takes one back to life during the Spanish colonial era. This brought the city to its prestige as part of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
There are more than one hundred of houses built during the 18th and 19th centuries have extraordinarily retained their original structural design, a combine Hispanic, Chinese and Filipino influences. Many of these houses have now been turned into museum , shops, and inns.
Calle Crisologo can be explored by walking or take a ride on one of the many Kalesas (horse-drawn carriage) roaming around. My preference was to walk around I would like to take my time exploring it and the places around it. Calle Crisologo is the famous street in Vigan City and trip to these City will not be complete if you don't take a visit to these historic street.
Bantay Bell Tower
From Calle Crisologo, a quick tricycle ride to beautiful belfry called Bantay Bell Tower. Towering over the town , the Bantay Bell Tower is a sight to behold, separately over a hilltop next to the stunning St. Augustine Parish Church.The town is popular because of the Bell Tower perched on top of a hill. According the tricycle driver who accompanied us inside the Bell Tower , the original structures as it stands was built by Augustinian Missionaries in 1591. It was made of bricks, rocks, as well as a combination of seashells and sugar cane ( the guide called it Apog).
The Bantay Bell Tower stands on the tallest point in the town, and was used as watch tower in the work of the French colonial period. As such , the tower is suitably name since the word " Bantay" is an Ilocano word for both "mountain" and "guard"( ah kaya pala...) To enjoy more scenic view ,must climb of a wooden steps leading to the belfry platform.
A few meters from the tower, a San Augustine Church, the oldest church of Ilocos Sur built in 1950 under the leadership of the town's first parish priest Fr. Montoya
Vigan's Hidden Garden
Tired but we're still up for more! Our next stop was Hidden Garden which featured the bounty and splendor of nature all in a very beautiful garden. If you are visiting Vigan City, you should not miss to visit this place . Hidden Garden is a very relaxing restaurant garden quiet far from the city proper of Vigan.
It is a garden of abundant of tropical plants and coffee shop.They serve coffee, coconut juice, orange, empanada,halo-halo, bagnet, and fresh fruit shakes.It has adequately landscaped garden with a native ambiance, large variety of plants, flowers and trees plus clay pots and antiques.
Moreover, thanks to Sir Francis Flores, owner of Hidden Garden for the warm welcome and sa food pala lol..sarap ng Halo-halo at Empanada... the best talaga!
