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St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral in Vigan Ilocos

Friday, 24 April 2009, 2:16 | Category : Churches, Road Trip

When I went to Vigan in Ilocos Sur, I was really amazed for the city is really rich in history. Aside from there UNESCO heritage site, the Crisologo St, one most also visit one of the oldest churches in Ilocos region – St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral or popularly known as Vigan Cathedral, located in front of Plaza Salcedo and beside Plaza Burgos.

Vigan Cathedral was built in 1574 on the order of Juan de Salcedo, the conquistador and Founder of Villa Fernandina, now Vigan. The original chapel was made of wood and thatch and it features a Neo-Gothic and pseudo Romanesque motifs. The baroque-styled church has thick buttresses to support it through earthquakes and typhoons. It only became a cathedral when the seat of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia was transferred from Cagayan to Vigan in 1758.

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The church bell tower (belfry) stands separately in Plaza Burgos, 10 meters south of the cathedral. The bell tower is about 25 meters high and it is surmounted by a large bronze weathercock that is said to symbolize St Peter.

As found in the church’s marker, the original church was a chapel of wood and thatch erected in 1574 on orders of Juan de Salcedo, the conquistador and Founder of Villa Fernandina (now Vigan). Historian Benito Legarda writes that the “construction of the cathedral to replace the dilapidated church of San Pablo was authorized by the celebrated Governor Jose de Basco y Vargas in 1786, and the cornerstone was laid on January 31, 1790.”

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The Bell Tower of Vigan Cathedral located in Plaza Burgos, just a few meters away from the church.

The church itself became a cathedral when the seat of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia was transferred from Lal-lo, Cagayan, to Vigan in 1758. An imposing structure in the heart of Vigan, the church’s main door flanked by two pairs of columns which rise to the second tier of the façade. A niche above the main door houses a statue of St. Paul. A three-story bell tower with a square base and a mini-dome at the top lies nearby. (Source: Ilocos Sur Website)

ST. PAUL METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Official Website: http://www.ilocossur.com.ph

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It became a Cathedral when the seat of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia was transferred from Cagayan to Vigan in 1758.

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The church at night…

4 Comments for “St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral in Vigan Ilocos”

  1. 1biyahengpinoy

    wrote on 25 April 2009 at 13:57

    very nice post. stunning photos. very impressive.

  2. 2biyahengpinoy

    wrote on 25 April 2009 at 13:58

    ganda ng mga photos. i’m impressed.

  3. 3AudreyRose

    wrote on 26 April 2009 at 0:29

    thanks wencel!!!!! nice meeting you in awesome Philippines :)

  4. 4RokawaZANEH

    wrote on 15 December 2010 at 18:11

    HmMm??pwede po ba ninyong lagay ang mga gospels every masS??
    tnx poh… (“,)

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