Vigan

The origin of the name "Vigan" is pre-colonial. It was also spelled "Bigan" in Spanish colonial records (including in the 1734 Velarde map). It is derived from Ilocano bigàan (or kabigàan), literally "the place where bíga abounds". Bíga is the common name of the giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos) in Ilocano.{{cite journal |last1=Madriaga |first1=D.D., Mors Rev. |title=The Coats-of-Arms of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions in the Philippines: Part I |journal=Philippine Studies |date=1957|volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=177-189 |url=https://archium.ateneo.edu/phstudies/vol5/iss2/7/}}{{cite journal |last1=Blench |first1=Roger M. |title=Vernacular Names for Taro in the Indo-Pacific Region : Implications for Centres of Diversification and Spread |journal=Senri Ethnological Studies |date=2012 |volume=78 |pages=21-43 |doi=10.15021/00002508}}

File:Coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia.svg of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia depicting a flowering bíga (Alocasia macrorrhizos)]]

This is reflected in the Spanish-era coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia (of which Vigan was the seat of the episcopal see) which depicts a flowering Alocasia macrorrhizos proper.

The meaning of "Vigan" is also a common subject of folk etymologies, of which there are two popular accounts. One claiming it originated from a misunderstood question (a common trope in Filipino place-name folk etymologies); and another which claims it came from Chinese bí-gān (美岸), meaning "beautiful shore" (allegedly from the gold dust in the seashore). Neither of these accounts have historical or academic evidence.{{cite book |last1=Azurin |first1=Arnold M. |editor-last=Apilado |editor-first=Digna B. |title=History of the People: Volume 1 (Abra, Ilocos, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan) |date=1998 |publisher=National Historical Institute |chapter=Vintage Vigan |pages=36-43}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MGKQ2Xi7y4AC |title=The Regional State of Brown Environment Report |date=2007 |publisher=Environmental Management Bureau |language=en}}

The trading town of Vigan was near the settlement founded by Salcedo, which he named Villa Fernandina ("Town of Ferdinand"), in honor of Prince Ferdinand, the firstborn son of King Philip II of Spain. Villa Fernandina was originally meant to be the capital of Salcedo's encomienda, but it suffered from outbreaks of disease early in its history. It was later merged with the bigger trading town of Vigan, and was administered by a single alcalde mayor. Eventually, the name of Villa Fernandina became attached to Vigan.{{Cite web |last=Cimatu |first=Frank |date=2015-05-13 |title=Vigan: Sleepy city with big dreams |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/690914/vigan-sleepy-city-with-big-dreams |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}} As the city grew, and the seat of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia transferred to Vigan, it was later renamed Ciudad Fernandina de Vigan ("Ferdinand's City of Vigan/Fernandine City of Vigan").

File:Landing Fields - Philippines - Luzon Island - NARA - 68161222.jpg

Due to silting of the Mestizo River, Vigan is no longer separated from the mainland, therefore no longer an island. The city is unique in the Philippines because it is one of many extensive surviving Philippine historic cities, dating back to the 16th century.

During the pre-colonial period, Vigan was a coastal trading post frequented by trade ships of Austronesian, Arab, Indian, Chinese, and (mainly) Japanese traders (similar to other trading towns along the Ilocos region like Aparri, Candon, and Lingayen).{{Cite web |title=The City {{!}} Vigan City Government - Etymology: How the City Got its Name |url=https://vigancity.gov.ph/the-city/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=vigancity.gov.ph |language=en-US}} Traders sailing from the South China Sea came to Isla de Vigan (Island of Vigan) via the Mestizo River that surrounded it.

In the book The Philippine Island (Vol. III, p. 276, Blair and Robertson) two letters from Governor-General Guido de Lavezaris to King Philip II of Spain mention: "It seemed best to send Captain Juan de Salcedo with 70 or 80 soldiers to explore the coast of Los Ilocanos on the shores of the river called Bigan." The Spaniards led by Salcedo marched north from Manila on May 20, 1572. They arrived in Vigan on June 13, 1572.{{cite book|last1=De la Torre|first1=Visitacion|title=The Ilocos Heritage|date=2006|publisher=Tower Book House|location=Makati|isbn=978-971-91030-9-7|page=2}}

Thus, after the successful expedition and the exploration of the North, Juan de Salcedo founded "Villa Fernandina de Vigan" in honor of King Philip II's son, Prince Ferdinand, who died at the age of four. From Vigan, Salcedo rounded the tip of Luzón and proceeded to pacify Camarines, Albay, and Catanduanes. As a reward for his services to the King of Spain, Salcedo was awarded the old province of Ilocos, which consisted of the modern provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union and part of Mountain Province as his hacienda (estate), and was accorded the title of Justicia Mayor de esta Provincia de Ylocos (Province Mayor of Ilocos).{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=COSEDwAAQBAJ |title=LEAGUE Magazine, September-October 2017 Issue: The Local Government Unit Magazine |date=2017-09-01 |publisher=The League Publishing Company, Inc. |language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6BpwAAAAMAAJ&q=Province+Mayor+of+Ilocos+juan+salcedo |title=Centennial Commemorative Lectures, 1998 |date=1998 |publisher=The Committee |language=en}}

In 1574, Salcedo returned to the capital of his encomienda (trusteeship), Vigan, bringing with him his soldiers and some Augustinian missionaries to pioneer the evangelization of the Ilocos region. He established a Spanish city for the purpose of controlling the neighboring country.

Governor General Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas, in his account of encomienda dated in Manila on May 31, 1591, states: "The town of Vigan called Villa Fernandina consisted of Spanish settlers; a priest; a Justice Alcalde Mayor (Governor); and a Deputy. The King collects 800 tributes (equivalent to 3,200 subjects)." During this period, Vigan was composed of 19 barrios (districts).

Between 1645 and 1660, Vigan was divided into 21 Cabezas de Barrio (Town Mayors) as mentioned in the Libro de Casamiento (Book of Marriage); from the records of the parish house of Vigan found in its archives. Separated from the indigenous population, the Chinese migrants were residents in a neighbourhood called El Pariancillo, los Sangleyes del parian (The Sangleyes of the Parian); and the Spanish settlers were residents in a town called Los Españoles de la Villa (The Town Spaniards). The Spaniards consisted of about 60 Spanish Households.[https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.530346/2015.530346.jesuits-in_djvu.txt "Jesuits In The Philippines (1581-1768)" Page 59] "These settlements were much smaller than Manila. In 1582 Manila had

an adult male population of 300 Spaniards; Vigan, 60; Nueva Caceres,

30; Cebu, 70; Arevalo, 20. In 1586 Manila had 329 Spanish men and

youths capable of bearing arms ; the most recently established settlement, Nueva Segovia in Cagayan, had 97; Nueva Caceres, 69; Arevalo, 65; Cavite, 64; Cebu, 63; Villa Fernandina, 19. The region of Ilocos where Vigan is located is also recorded to have had 631 mixed Spanish-Filipino families.[https://ia601608.us.archive.org/10/items/bub_gb_ElhFAAAAYAAJ_2/bub_gb_ElhFAAAAYAAJ.pdf ESTADISMO DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS TOMO SEGUNDO By Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga (Original Spanish)]{{rp|31}} It also had 44,852 native families.{{rp|31}}

In 1755, Bp. Juan de la Fuente Yepes made a request to the King Fernando VI to move the Diocese of Nueva Segovia to Villa Fernandina due to the deteriorating status of Lal-lo. In 1758, with the Royal Decree signed by Fernando VI, Villa Fernadina became Ciudad Fernandina de Vigan and the See of Nueva Segovia was transferred from Lal-lo, Cagayan. The bell ensconced within the belfry of Vigan, has the imprinted words of the decree. Wherever the clang of the bell reaches, it marks the territory of Ciudad Fernandina de Vigan. In 1849, Leona Florentino, the mother of Philippine women's literature, was born in Vigan.Mabanglo, R. E. (2020). Leona Florentino: Mother of Filipina poetry. Philippine Graphic.

During the Philippine Revolution, revolutionary forces under Manuel Tinio, supported by the Ilocano rebels, attacked and defeated the Spanish colonial forces and captured the city in the Siege of Vigan.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OKixAAAAIAAJ&q=siege+vigan+manuel+tinio |title=Atlantis |date=2004 |publisher=Institute for the Study of Women, Mount Saint Vincent University. |language=en}} During the Philippine–American War, American forces led by Commander McCracken and Lt. Col. James Parker occupied the town in November 1899.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KmzVAAAAMAAJ&q=mccracken+parker+vigan |title=The American Neptune |date=1975 |publisher=Peabody Museum of Salem |language=en}}

At the start of World War II, Vigan was one of the first places in the Philippines invaded by Japan on December 10, 1941. In 1945, combined U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth ground troops, aided by Ilocano resistance fighters, defeated the Japanese Imperial forces and liberated Vigan.

In 1999, Vigan was listed by UNESCO as the best preserved example of Spanish colonial towns in Asia.{{Cite web |date=2016-03-27 |title=Vigan City stays walkable despite influx of tourists |url=https://www.rappler.com/science/126658-vigan-city-sustainable-transportation/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}} Its architecture is the conglomeration of cultural elements from the Philippines, China, and Spain, making it unique in the world.

{{main|Cities of the Philippines}}

On December 27, 2000, then President Joseph Estrada signed Republic Act No. 8988, that "revalidated and recognized" Vigan's city status granted by virtue of the Royal Decree of September 7, 1757, issued by Ferdinand VI, King of Spain.{{Cite book |last=Philippines |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h-pWAAAAMAAJ&q=Republic+Act+No.+8988+gazette+vigan |title=Official Gazette |date=2001 |publisher=National Print. Office |language=en}} This legislation serves as Vigan's present city charter. The charter did not provide a clause for a plebiscite and the law took effect in January 2001.

On December 7, 2014, Vigan was named as one of the New7Wonders Cities.

{{main|2022 Luzon earthquake}}

On July 27, 2022, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck parts of Luzon,{{Cite news |date=2022-07-27 |title=Magnitude-7 Earthquake Hits Philippines' Main Island |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-27/earthquake-shakes-philippines-luzon-island |access-date=2022-07-27}} damaging the city's UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Vigan Cathedral and old-century houses, as well as few power lines toppled along Calle Crisologo.{{cite news|url=https://www.topgear.com.ph/news/motoring-news/abra-earthquake-vigan-city-aftermath-a4354-20220727|title=Look: State of Vigan City roads, buildings after magnitude 7.3 earthquake|publisher=Top Gear Philippines|date=27 July 2022|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063254/https://www.topgear.com.ph/news/motoring-news/abra-earthquake-vigan-city-aftermath-a4354-20220727|url-status=live}}

File:Vigan coast 3.jpg

The City of Vigan is situated in the northern part of Luzon, the Philippines’ largest island. It serves as the capital of Ilocos Sur and has been a major political and trading center since before the Spanish colonizers arrived in the Philippines.

Vigan is situated {{convert|403.88|km|mi}} from the capital city of Manila.

Its {{Convert|2511|ha}} of land consists mostly of plains with gentle hills. Its boundaries on the north, east, south, and west are the municipalities of Bantay, Santa, Caoayan, and Santa Catalina, respectively. The South China Sea is on its southwest portion.

Majority of its land, 60 percent of it, is used for agriculture. Around 32 percent is made up of residential area, nearly three percent are for commercial and industrial use, and around one percent is for institutional purposes. There are also forest reserves and fishponds included in Vigan's land area.

Vigan is made up of 39 barangays. Thirty of them are classified as rural, but they occupy only 2,366 hectares. The remaining nine are classified as poblacion barangays and are together 144.75 hectares big.

The barangays of Pagburnayan, Paoa, and Tamag are on the area of rolling plains. On the other hand, portions of Barangays Tamag and the barangays of Bulala and Salindeg are found on the city's hilly parts.

Its most dominant hill feature is the Vigan Gap Hill in the eastern part, just 10 kilometers away from the city. Vigan used to be separated from the rest of the mainland by the rivers of Abra, Mestizo and Govantes, making it an island during that time. The Govantes River cuts the current Vigan plain from North to South.

The large Abra and Mestizo rivers, together with the rivers of Bantay, Bantaoay, Nauman and Santo Tomas serve as part of a network that drain the Vigan plains. These rivers are not only important in safekeeping the city from floods, they also served as important ways of transport for trade-related activities from the 15th century to the 19th century, that helped make Vigan a thriving center. The most vital of these rivers is said to be the Mestizo River which was used by the small vessels to transport goods and people.

There is a faulting trend in the Vigan plain that ends in Santa Catalina.

The land area of Vigan is generally flat. Slopes of 20 are found at Barangay V, Tamag, and Paoa. There are no forest reserves in the city in terms of potential and raw materials. Bamboo is the only forest product in Vigan.

There are five soil types in the city. First, the Bantay Loam, located at the southern portion of Raois, has a land area of 36.67 hectares, and is good as pastureland. The second, Umingan sandy, with a land area of 1191.57 hectares, is good for upland rice and vegetables. The third, San Manuel clay loam, which is best for bananas, cotton and vegetables, has an area of 1244.57 hectares. The fourth, Bantog clay—considered as the most significant type for soil, and the best clay material for making pots, jars and all earthenware, has a land area of 31.65 hectares. The fifth, beach sand, with a land area of 7.28 hectares, is generally found on the shores of all the beaches of Vigan, and is best for coconut plantation.

File:Vigan Barangay Map.png

Vigan is politically subdivided into 39 barangays.{{PSGC detail|area}} Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}

• Ayusan Norte
• Ayusan Sur
• Barangay I (Poblacion)
• Barangay II (Poblacion)
• Barangay III (Poblacion)
• Barangay IV (Poblacion)
• Barangay IX (Poblacion)
• Barangay V (Poblacion)
• Barangay VI (Poblacion)
• Barangay VII (Poblacion)
• Barangay VIII (Poblacion)
• Barraca
• Beddeng Daya
• Beddeng Laud
• Bongtolan
• Bulala
• Cabalangegan
• Cabaroan Daya
• Cabaroan Laud
• Camangaan
• Capangpangan
• Mindoro
• Nagsangalan
• Pantay Daya
• Pantay Fatima
• Pantay Laud
• Paoa
• Paratong
• Pong-ol
• Purok-a-bassit
• Purok-a-dackel
• Raois
• Rugsuanan
• Salindeg
• San Jose
• San Julian Norte
• San Julian Sur
• San Pedro
• Tamag

{{div col end}}

The sedimentary and metamorphic rocks that are present in the city are alluvium, fluviatile, lacustrine, paludal and beach deposits such as coral, stools, and beach rock. These are predominantly found along the coastal areas of Vigan. An important non-metallic mineral resource found in Vigan is the kind of clay that is used in making earthen jars locally called burnay. Earthenware of different uses and sizes are made of this kind of clay. Known as Bantog clay, the mineral is the basic material in making bricks. These bricks are the original materials in building the Hispanic houses of Vigan.

Vigan is situated in a Quaternary Age sedimentary plain called the Vigan-Bantay Plain which is part of the Ilocos coastal plain. The Vigan-Bantay Plain is bounded on the east by a moderately rugged Miocene sediments consisting of interbedded sandstones and shale to very rugged Meta-volcanics and Meta sediment topography; on the south is the Municipality of Santa where the north–south trending fault terminates; to the west is the South China Sea; while the northern boundary opens to the northern extension of the Ilocos coastal plain.

The central part of the plain is characterized by a dissected ridge of Plio-Pleistocene age that trends in a northeast–southwest direction. The ridge divides the Vigan-Bantay Plain into northern and southern plains.

The northern part of the plain is drained by minor rivers namely: Bantaoay, Santo Tomas, and Nauman rivers, while the Abra River is the main drainage network of the southern portion of the plain. The Abra River meanders into the hinterland but exhibits a braided pattern across the plain.

The drainage network of the eastern margin of Vigan-Bantay plain consist of deeply cut valleys whose pattern is strongly controlled by main faulting trends, particularly those in the northerly and easterly directions.

Vigan is being drained by the Vigan River and Bantay River, respectively, on the north and on the south by Mestizo River whose water discharge comes from the Bantaoay head waters.

The relief of the Vigan-Bantay plain is actively level to undulating with a slope ranging from 0% to 8%. Vigan in particular is generally in level with several hills in Barangays Tamag, Bulala, and Salindeg, sometimes reaching about 50 meters in elevation and has a slope ranging from 3% to 8%.

The eastern margin of the plain characterized by a steep to very steep slope, about 40% to 60%, the relief often reaches an elevation of more than 600 meters especially the northerly and easterly portion.

The dominant topographic feature in the eastern margin of the town is the Vigan Gap Hill where the continuously shifting Vigan River cuts its way. The Gap Hill is located approximately 10 kilometers east of Vigan.

{{Weather box

| location = Vigan (1991–2020, extremes 1903–2023)

| width = auto

| single line = Y

| metric first = Y

| Jan record high C = 35.6

| Feb record high C = 35.7

| Mar record high C = 36.9

| Apr record high C = 38.8

| May record high C = 38.2

| Jun record high C = 38.2

| Jul record high C = 35.4

| Aug record high C = 36.9

| Sep record high C = 35.1

| Oct record high C = 37.5

| Nov record high C = 36.7

| Dec record high C = 35.5

|year record high C = 38.8

| Jan high C = 30.2

| Feb high C = 30.7

| Mar high C = 31.8

| Apr high C = 33.0

| May high C = 33.0

| Jun high C = 32.2

| Jul high C = 31.3

| Aug high C = 30.6

| Sep high C = 31.0

| Oct high C = 31.4

| Nov high C = 31.5

| Dec high C = 30.9

|year high C = 31.5

| Jan mean C = 25.7

| Feb mean C = 26.2

| Mar mean C = 27.4

| Apr mean C = 28.7

| May mean C = 29.0

| Jun mean C = 28.4

| Jul mean C = 27.7

| Aug mean C = 27.3

| Sep mean C = 27.4

| Oct mean C = 27.4

| Nov mean C = 27.3

| Dec mean C = 26.6

|year mean C = 27.4

| Jan low C = 21.2

| Feb low C = 21.6

| Mar low C = 23.0

| Apr low C = 24.3

| May low C = 24.9

| Jun low C = 24.6

| Jul low C = 24.1

| Aug low C = 24.0

| Sep low C = 23.8

| Oct low C = 23.4

| Nov low C = 23.2

| Dec low C = 22.3

|year low C = 23.4

| Jan record low C = 13.5

| Feb record low C = 14.0

| Mar record low C = 16.0

| Apr record low C = 19.3

| May record low C = 19.6

| Jun record low C = 16.8

| Jul record low C = 17.8

| Aug record low C = 17.0

| Sep record low C = 19.0

| Oct record low C = 17.2

| Nov record low C = 15.4

| Dec record low C = 14.5

|year record low C = 13.5

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 5.8

| Feb rain mm = 2.5

| Mar rain mm = 5.4

| Apr rain mm = 17.2

| May rain mm = 173.0

| Jun rain mm = 281.8

| Jul rain mm = 529.8

| Aug rain mm = 613.8

| Sep rain mm = 356.2

| Oct rain mm = 134.7

| Nov rain mm = 45.7

| Dec rain mm = 6.2

|year rain mm = 2172.1

| unit rain days = 1 mm

| Jan rain days = 2

| Feb rain days = 2

| Mar rain days = 2

| Apr rain days = 2

| May rain days = 9

| Jun rain days = 14

| Jul rain days = 19

| Aug rain days = 19

| Sep rain days = 15

| Oct rain days = 7

| Nov rain days = 4

| Dec rain days = 2

|year rain days = 97

| Jan humidity = 74

| Feb humidity = 74

| Mar humidity = 74

| Apr humidity = 75

| May humidity = 78

| Jun humidity = 82

| Jul humidity = 85

| Aug humidity = 87

| Sep humidity = 86

| Oct humidity = 81

| Nov humidity = 78

| Dec humidity = 75

|year humidity = 79

| source 1 = PAGASA

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181018220810/https://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/pagasaweb/files/cad/CLIMATOLOGICAL%20NORMALS%20%281991-2020%29/VIGAN-SINAIT.pdf

| archive-date = October 18, 2018

| url = https://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/pagasaweb/files/cad/CLIMATOLOGICAL%20NORMALS%20%281991-2020%29/VIGAN-SINAIT.pdf

| title = Vigan City, Ilocos Sur Climatological Normal Values

| publisher = Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

| access-date = October 18, 2018}}

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181018220852/https://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/pagasaweb/files/cad/CLIMATOLOGICAL%20EXTREMES%20%28as%20of%202023%29/Vigan-Sinait.pdf

| archive-date = October 18, 2018

| url = https://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/pagasaweb/files/cad/CLIMATOLOGICAL%20EXTREMES%20%28as%20of%202023%29/Vigan-Sinait.pdf

| title = Vigan City, Ilocos Sur Climatological Extremes

| publisher = Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

| access-date = October 18, 2018}}

}}

The city of Vigan falls under tropical savanna, which is characterized by two pronounced seasons – the dry season which starts from the month of November and ends in April; and the wet season which spans the months of May to October. The average annual rainfall is {{convert|2506|mm|in|2}} and the heaviest registered rainfall is {{convert|6933|mm|in|2}}.

The average temperature is 26 °C. The average warmest temperature is 30.9 °C and the average coldest temperature is 21.1 °C. An average of 7-10 typhoons visit Vigan annually. The average relative humidity is 81%.

File:Plaza Burgos.jpg]]

{{Philippine Census

| align= none

| cols = 3

| title= Population census of {{PH wikidata|name}}

| 1903 = {{PH census population|1903}}

| 1918 = {{PH census population|1918}}

| 1939 = {{PH census population|1939}}

| 1948 = {{PH census population|1948}}

| 1960 = {{PH census population|1960}}

| 1970 = {{PH census population|1970}}

| 1975 = {{PH census population|1975}}

| 1980 = {{PH census population|1980}}

| 1990 = {{PH census population|1990}}

| 1995 = {{PH census population|1995}}

| 2000 = {{PH census population|2000}}

| 2007 = {{PH census population|2007}}

| 2010 = {{PH census population|2010}}

| 2015 = {{PH census population|2015}}

| 2020 = {{PH census population|2020}}

| 2025 =

| 2030 =

| footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|2015}}{{PH census|2010}}{{PH census|2007}}{{LWUA population data}}

}}

In the 2020 census, Vigan had a population of 53,935.{{PH census|current}} The population density was {{convert|{{sigfig|53,935/25.12|2}}|PD/km2}}.

The main dialect spoken in Vigan is Ilocano.

{{PH poverty incidence}}

{{main|Sangguniang Panglungsod}}

File:Ilocos Sur Capitol.jpg

Vigan is part of the first congressional district of the province of Ilocos Sur. It is governed by a mayor, designated as its local chief executive, and by a city council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

File:Plaza Salcedo Vigan Church.jpg]]

File:Vigan Cathedral, Vigan , Ilocos Sur.JPG]]

When Juan de Salcedo founded Vigan in 1572, he decided to pattern its urban plan with that of Intramuros, the walled city in Manila.

The urban planners of the Spanish government also followed a basic pattern that can be observed in most old towns in the country, whose establishment dates back to the Spanish colonial period. This pattern is detailed in the Ley de las Indias, the Law of the Indies, and was put into force in the 18th century. Under the Law of the Indies streets were to follow a grid pattern, the center of which being a plaza or central park.

In Vigan, the central park is the Plaza Salcedo. Next to it are the administrative buildings—the Casa Real or provincial administrative office, and the municipio (municipal hall). A stone's throw away are the religious buildings—the seminary of the archdiocese, the Arzobispado (Archbishop's Palace), and the St. Paul's Cathedral. Beside these religious structures is the church-run school, the Saint Paul College, known in its early days as the Colegio de Niñas. After the full transfer of the said school to the neighboring towns of Bantay and San Vicente, the building was handed over to the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia and is currently being occupied by a retail store chain, with only a commemorative plaque at the building's entrance and the old "ROSARY COLLEGE" concrete sign at its rear reminding visitors of its past (the school's old logo, once found at the building's facade, has been removed sometime later).

A unique thing is the existence of another plaza, the Plaza Burgos, which is immediately beside the St. Paul's Cathedral. After the first tier emanating from Plaza Salcedo are the houses of prominent residents that now make up the preserved heritage houses of Vigan. This urban plan remained relatively intact despite wars and natural calamities that have been endured by Vigan since its foundation.

The major changes to the original urban landscape were caused by fires. The Casa Real was replaced with a provincial capitol building during the American period when the original structure burned down. The archdiocese seminary was also destroyed by fire in 1968, and it lay in ruins until the late 1990s, when part of a shopping mall was built on the site.

The residential areas were likewise not spared. Some of the houses on Crisologo Street were casualties of fire during the Japanese period; several houses on Quezon Avenue were destroyed by fire in 1952; while in 1971, some houses near Plaza Burgos burned down as well. The houses along Crisologo Street that were burned were later reconstructed faithfully following the architecture of the former structures.

Presently, there are other major areas of activities other than the two plazas, though these are still where most recreation and shopping are done. One may also go to the southern part of the city to reach the commercial area and public market. The current public market is a new one, as the old one (formerly the Imelda Socio-Commercial Complex), on the same site, was (also) destroyed by fire. A new mall (opened in December 2017) was constructed on the site of the city's first Public Market, found in the center of the business district, after being the site of some business establishments and a tricycle-for-hire terminal.

File:WIKI-2012-negdelacruz-VIGAN-bricks 04.jpg

Popular sites include Calle Crisologo located in the Mestizo district- the old quarters of the city.{{cite web |title=Calle Crisologo- Mena Crisologo Street |url=https://www.vigan.ph/attractions/calle-crisologo-mena-crisologo-street.html |website=Vigan.ph |date=12 June 2015 |access-date=March 7, 2020}} Syquia Mansion Museum,{{cite web |title=Syquia Mansion of President Elpidio Quirino |url=https://www.vigan.ph/heritage/syquia-mansion-of-president-elpidio-quirino.html |website=Vigan.ph |date=12 June 2015 |access-date=March 7, 2020}} Plaza Salcedo's Dancing Fountain,{{cite web |title=Vigan Travel: Historical Plaza Salcedo Turns into a Spectacle of Lights at Night |url=https://primer.com.ph/travel/2017/02/08/reflections-and-dancing-fountains-plaza-salcedo/ |website=Philippine Primer |access-date=March 8, 2020}} Padre Burgos House,{{cite web |title=Padre Burgos House |url=https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Padre%20Burgos.html |website=National Museum of the Philippines |access-date=March 8, 2020 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126154747/https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Padre%20Burgos.html |url-status=dead }} Baluarte Zoo, and the National Museum of the Philippines.{{cite news |last1=Cimatu |first1=Frank |title=Old Ilocos Sur jail nowan art center |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/675089/old-ilocos-sur-jail-now-an-art-center |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=March 8, 2020}} Nearby is the Bantay Church Bell Tower. Of special note is the Hotel Luna, which houses an extensive collection of art, including La Mandolinera by Juan Luna.{{cite web |title=Why revitalizing hotels with art is a good strategy |date=26 June 2018 |url=http://fnbreport.ph/features/hospitality/why-revitalizing-hotels-with-art-is-a-good-strategy-admin-20180627/ |publisher=F&B Report |access-date=March 8, 2020}}

Mayor Jose 'Bonito' Singson, Jr. led the 2024 Grand Parade of Vigan City Fiesta and Vigan Longganisa Festival. The 2024 Fiesta featured Banaoang Marathon, a 12-kilometer track from Banaoang Bridge from Santa, Ilocos Sur and Bantay, Ilocos Sur boundary to the Plaza Burgos, Vigan, LGBTQIA+ Day, Vigan Conservation Complex symposium, Community Alay Gupit, Got Talent and fashion show, Vigan Food Festival, Search for Miss Vigan, Dog and Cat Fun Day, Longganisa Street Dance Showdown, Pinaka-Livestock contest, Education Day, and Social Services Night. On January 22, 2024, Vigan launched '101 Ways to Cook Longganisa' cookbook for the January 18–27, 2024 Longganisa Festival.{{cite news |last1=Hernando |first1=Ivy |title=Streets filled in Vigan City Fiesta and Longganisa Festival Parade|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/features/100245/streets-filled-in-vigan-city-fiesta-and-longganisa-festival-parade/story/ |accessdate=April 28, 2024 |publisher=ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs |date=January 25, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Villanueva|first1=Aila |title=Vigan City to launch Longganisa cookbook in 10-day fest|url= https://pia.gov.ph/news/2024/01/10/vigan-city-to-launch-longganisa-cookbook-in-10-day-fest|accessdate=April 28, 2024 |publisher=Presidential Communications Group |date=January 25, 2024}}

File:Horse carriages in Vigan City.JPG, one of the modes of transportation in Vigan]]

Modes of transport within the city are purely land-based. Vehicles for public use include jeepneys, tricycles, vans-for-hire (or PUVs/public utility vehicles) and calesas (horse-drawn vehicles). Buses, mini-buses and jeepneys provide transportation to and from Vigan. The metro Vigan transport system is mostly served by tricycles, which are color- and number-coded to identify their municipality of origin.

Vigan City is well-served by a network of roads and a major highway that connects to Manila North Road, the highway leading to Manila and the rest of the country. Major bus companies such as Dominion Bus Lines, Viron Transit, Partas, and Aniceto/St. Joseph operate terminals in Vigan. GMW Florida Transport operates a terminal in Bantay, just outside Vigan. Bus companies such as Maria de Leon and Fariñas pass by Vigan on their way to Laoag. They operate direct and/or indirect bus services from Vigan City to points in Luzon, mostly to Manila, Baguio, and Laoag and vice versa. There are also independent bus operators, who recently banded together to form different transport cooperatives,{{Cite web | url=https://otc.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Accredited-Transport-Cooperatives-Jan-2021-Web.pdf | title=Accredited Transport Cooperatives as of January 2021 | website=otc.gov.ph | publisher=Office of Transportation Cooperatives (Philippines}} plying the Laoag-Vigan-Carmen and Vigan-Abra routes, and have a joint terminal found at the New Vigan Public Market Annex. A taxi service started operating in 2019, just before the COViD-19 pandemic struck.

A secondary airport called Vigan Airport (also known as Mindoro Airport) is located at Barangay Mindoro. It has one asphalted runway, 900 meters long and 30 meters wide. The airport was once a dormant asset of the city for it does not generate revenue, with only chartered and private planes using it; it is currently being upgraded and is on its way toward commercialization.

The Vigan City Schools Division Office oversees the operations of all Schools District Offices within the city. The Division Office is managed by the Department of Education (DepEd). There are two schools district offices (SDOs), namely: Vigan City District I Schools District Office, and Vigan City District II Schools District Office. They govern the operations of all private and public elementary and high schools throughout the city.{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2021 |title=Masterlist of Schools |url=https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SY-2020-2021-Masterlist-of-Schools-Address-only-1-1.pdf |access-date=April 18, 2025 |website=Department of Education}} Technical and vocational schools are governed by TESDA. Tertiary levels are governed by CHED.

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Adventist School La Ciudad Fernandina
• Ayusan-Paoa Elementary School
• Bulala-Paratong Elementary School
• Burgos Memorial School East
• Burgos Memorial School West
• Cabaroan-Cabalangegan Elementary School
• Calvary Baptist Academy (Elementary)
• Camangaan Elementary School
• Capangpangan Elementary School
• Dudley-S Lara Educational Center for Children
• Gov. Evaristo Singson II Memorial Elementary School
• Jose Singson Elementary School
• Mindoro Elementary School
• Mother Edeltraud Danner School
• Nagsangalan Elementary School
• Pantay Elementary School
• Raois Elementary School
• Rugsuanan-Puroc Elementary School
• Salindeg Elementary School (Salindeg-Pong-ol, Barraca Elementary School)
• San Julian Elementary School
• St. Thomas Aquinas Learning Center
• Tamag Elementary School
• UCCP Christian Learning and Development Center
• Vigan Central School
• Vigan Nan Chong School

{{div col end}}

• Calvary Baptist Academy
• Ilocos Sur National High School (ISNHS) — the major national high school in the province.
• Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary
• Lyceum de Ylocos (Senior High School)
• Marian Institute of Vigan
• Vigan East National High School
• Vigan West National High School

• Lyceum de Ylocos — is a new school offering Technical-Vocational courses and is a registered Senior High School offering various Tracks that include ABM, GAS, HUMSS and TLE-Technical-Vocational Courses. Situated at the heart of the Heritage City, 3F Vigan Landmark Building, Barangay VIII. The school adopted a classical name to emphasize the grandeur of its location, the Heritage City of Vigan, the only awardee of the title New World Wonder City in the Philippines. It fosters the promotion of tourism and hospitality; promotes preservation of the cultural heritage and innovates towards service delivery and business processing. Lyceum de Ylocos is committed to be of service to students through the provisions of an environment where there would be opportunities to relate theories and knowledge to practical training.

• Data Center Colleges Philippines Vigan Branch - Data Center Philippines (DCPI) first came to Ilocos Sur through a partnership with the University of Northern Philippines for its computerization efforts in the late 80s. It later evolved independently as a college offering computer- and non-computer-related courses. Formerly operating where Lyceum de Ylocos is operating today, they are currently located in a building just outside UNP's Vigan Campus.
• Divine Word College of Vigan (formerly known as the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción) — the oldest privately funded school in Ilocos Sur, founded by priests belonging to the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in 1822.
• Ilocos Sur Community College
• Macro Colleges — the first computer college in the province, having evolved from being the first shop in Ilocos Sur to offer computer-based services. The school is now K-to-12 College, located at Quezon Avenue. Currently operated by the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives.
• STI College
• University of Northern Philippines Main Campus — in Barangay Tamag. It is the oldest state university in Northern Luzon, founded by virtue of Republic Act 4449, authored by Congressman Floro Crisologo.

• PTV Vigan Channel 4
• GNN Vigan Channel 30
• TV5 Vigan Channel 32
• UNTV Vigan Channel 36
• Sonshine TV Vigan Channel 38
• GTV Vigan Channel 40
• One Sports Vigan Channel 46
• GMA Vigan Channel 48

• Eaglevision Cable
• Vigan Satellite Cable TV
• Cignal TV
• Sky Direct

AM stations:

• DZVV Bombo Radyo 603 (Bombo Radyo Philippines)
• DWAE Radyo Pilipinas 747 (Philippine Broadcasting Service)
• Radyo Commando 927 (Solidnorth Broadcasting)
• DZNS 963 Radyo Totoo (Catholic Media Network)

FM stations:

• 91.7 Brigada News FM (Brigada Mass Media Corporation)
• 94.1 Magik FM (Century Broadcasting Network)
• 99.7 Core FM (Iddes Broadcast Group)
• 100.5 Campus Radio (University of Northern Philippines)
• 102.5 Live Frequency

• Leona Florentino, a Filipina foundational poet, dramatist, satirist, and playwright who is also known as the Mother of Philippine Women's Literature and honored in France, Spain, and the United States.Mabanglo, R. E. (2020). Leona Florentino: Mother of Filipina poetry. Philippine Graphic.
• Chavit Singson, ex-politician, businessman.
• Floro Crisologo, lawyer, politician.
• Vincent Crisologo, ex-politician.
• Rogelio Singson, ex-politician and former cabinet member.
• Marcelino Crisólogo, politician, poet, writer and playwright. Calle Crisologo or Mena Crisologo Street was named after him.
• Isabelo de los Reyes, patriot, politician, writer, journalist, and labor activist.
• Leona Florentino, poet, dramatist, and playwright; recognized as the "mother of Philippine women's literature".
• Bryan Quitoriano, radio broadcaster
• Deogracias Victor B. Savellano, former governor, former Vice Governor, former House of Representatives Undersecretary for Livestock at the Department of Agriculture and former Mayor of Cabugao

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Vigan}}

• [http://www.vigan.ph/ Vigan.ph]
• {{official website|http://www.vigancity.gov.ph/}}
• [{{NSCB detail}} Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160215003931/http://census.gov.ph/ Philippine Census Information]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120509055631/http://www.blgs.gov.ph/lgpmsv2/cmshome/index.php?pageID=23&frmIdDcfCode=7&fLguType=CM&frmIdRegion=2&frmIdProvince=19&frmIdLgu=225 Local Governance Performance Management System]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Vigan

| North = Santa Catalina

| Northeast = Bantay

| Southeast = Santa

| South = Caoayan

| West = South China Sea

}}

{{World Heritage Sites in the Philippines}}

{{Ilocos Sur}}

{{Ilocos Region Provinces}}

{{Philippine cities}}

{{Philippine Provincial Capitals}}

{{Spanish Colonial architecture}}

{{Spanish Empire}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Ilocos Sur

Category:Populated places established in 1572

Category:1572 establishments in the Philippines

Category:Provincial capitals of the Philippines

Category:World Heritage Sites in the Philippines

Category:Populated coastal places in the Philippines

Category:Spanish colonial infrastructure in the Philippines

Category:Component cities in the Philippines