Walking is a form of good exercise. It helps improve physical wellness. It is also calming when you zee charming and rustic things around. It relaxes you zo it’s kind of therapeutic for the eyes, mind, and body. There are a lot of interesting things that you’ll zee in Calle Crisologo in Vigan zuch as the cobbled roads and calesas. And Yes, they are beautiful in real life. It’s like a beautiful oil painting that comes to life.
Calle Crisologo is a cobble-stoned street in Vigan with Spanish period rustic mansions left and right. This is one of the most photographed streets in the country hence allowing anyone to appreciate its beauty even in pictures, however, spending time and loitering in this street would allow you even better to grasp its charm and rekindle that slow lifestyle back in the yesteryears. In my bumming around it, there are activities that I liked the most that really enabled me to enjoy this antiquated street.
1. Calesa Ride
Calle Crisologo seems to be automatically associated with the Calesa ride. Here, calesa which is a horse-drawn carriage seems to be the king of the streets. It is usually suggested as one of the must-experience activities here because it gives you the experience to ride a century-old form of transportation while conveniently sightseeing different heritage houses. It is a normal sight here to see passing calsesas packed with tourists. While enjoying their ride it makes you realize that what seemed to be normal in the streets back then has become rare. This results in making yesteryears’ usual places become world heritage sites that are being flocked by modern tourists.
2. Eat ‘Sorbetes’ or Ice Cream while walking
For some who do not prefer to ride the Calesa and just want to really appreciate every nook and spot in this street then you may opt to walk on Calle Crisologo. This will give you an authentic experience of walking on cobbled streets and get a feel of walking around old towns in European countries. But don’t just solely stroll, you may opt to eat ‘sorbetes’ or ice cream while walking. This will balance the scorching heat of the sun, especially in summer with the coolness of the ice cream. Also, the taste of this sweet delight will just make you cheerful enabling you to walk even further. Buying ice cream won’t be a problem as ‘sorbetero’ carts are almost everywhere. At the time I visited this place, most of the ‘ sorbeteros’ or ice cream vendors sell dragon fruit flavor sorbetes as it seems to be the flavor of the month or in season.
3. Sit on sidewalk benches
Now if you have gone tired, or you just want to have a lazy late afternoon then you can sit on the benches dotted along the street. This is a place where sitting along the sidewalk street doesn’t make you look like a vagrant but just someone who wants to savor a slow-paced living. Sitting on the street benches allows you to see people from different walks of life passing and doing their business in the busy calle. This includes locals doing their trade, tourists strolling and shopping, and children playing
4. Street photography
No matter what angle you look at this place it is just so photogenic. Certainly picturesque everywhere. If you are into photography then you would certainly appreciate this place. You can’t help but snap photos at each corner and spot that you pass through to have it as your souvenir. You might also develop an interest in aged doors as you see different styles of antique doors from different heritage mansions along the street. For that vintage background for selfies, this place allows you to just effortlessly have it.
5. Hunt for souvenirs
Aside from being known as a heritage street, Calle Crisologo can also be considered a street of souvenirs. Here you can hunt for antiques, furniture, and other home decorations. One of the most famous souvenirs that can be bought here is miniature furniture which tourists are usually fond of seeing. This can be found in almost all of the souvenir shops along Calle Crisologo
6. Drink coffee or dine in cafes housed in heritage structures
Some cafes use vintage furniture and fixtures to have that quaint vibe, but in Calle Crisologo the cafes are oozing with that vibe effortlessly. Here, the ground floor of the old mansions are used for commercial and some are occupied by homegrown cafes from simple to known ones. Drinking a cup of coffee at any cafe here enables you to have that authentic experience of dining in a coffee shop that’s placed in a heritage edifice. While dining, or sipping your warm coffee, you might also want to feel like a local and talk to locals or you may just sit and observe fellow tourists relaxing as they drink their refreshments, or you can also just watch the activities taking place outside from where you are sitting.
6. Staycation at a hotel near Calle Crisologo to explore it at dawn
Exploring Calle Crisologo at dawn is something I haven’t done but have been looking forward to doing. The street is beautiful and warm during the day but puts on a different interesting face at night. This kind of ambiance stays until before the sun shines in the morning. At dawn, the light is soft, the street is quiet and still empty, the souvenir shops and restaurants are still closed and sidewalks are stripped bare from walking tourists and displayed souvenirs. This makes it a perfect time to enjoy the street by yourself. It provides you a great opportunity to freely take pictures at every side and corner of it. Ergo, when I have the chance to go back to this street, this activity would be on my list.
Should you want to experience loitering on this heritage street, Calle Crisologo is located in Vigan city. You may explore it any time of the day.
✍ Republished August 15, 2023
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