Looking for a heritage town to visit with the feels like that of Vigan in Ilocos? Just around 3 hours away from Manila, the Heritage Town of Taal is an easy place to visit with sights just around a few blocks with each other.
From Bicol, we actually took the Quezon (Lucban), Laguna (Majayjay, Nagcarlan) and Batangas route (CLICK HERE for itinerary). We left Naga around 10 pm and arrived as early as around 4:30 am in Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban Quezon. This post is only about the Heritage Town of Taal, our DAY 2 ITINERARY. Here are few spots that you can visit for free except for one private museum which is the Galeria Taal.
Taal has a big role in the Philippine Revoluation. There are a lot of Bahay na Batos that you can learn about. You will be able to admire the Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes with the classic capiz windows, hardwoods flooring and walls plus the antiquity of the fixtures and decors. It's just so nice to see the houses of the important people in Philippine History. Bring your family with you especially the kids, let them learn from the actual places and not only from the books.
Places to visit in Taal Batangas
1. Basilica of St. Martin de Tours
Known as Taal Basilica, this church is the largest in the Philippines and in Asia. At the right side of the church is an equally beautiful building with a very nice facade.
Before you reach the Basilica is a Taal marker (first photo) on the right side and on the other side of the road is the Escuela Pia Taal Cultural Center
If you are a professional photographer or a hobbyist like me, this place will be mesmerizing for you. The private collection ranges from different brands from all over the world from the past to the present. Entrance fee for adult is P100 and srudents fee with ID is P50.
3. Leon and Galicano Apacible Museum
“The Apacible Museum, once the ancestral home of Don Leon and Matilde Apacible, stands like a beacon on the main street of the town. Don Leon was Emilio Aguinaldo’s Finance officer and a delegate to the Malolos Congress of 1898. Some notable items on display are blue and white Ming pottery, gilded Florentine wine decanters, a gilt-edge hand-painted Venetian dinner service, 18th -century chandeliers (many more were made in 1870 by M.F. Rachals of Hamburg, Germany) carefully preserved by the Apacibles.” from taal.com.ph
4. Doña Marcela Agoncillo Museum
The house is one of Taal’s oldest, built in the late 17th century by Marcela’s grandfather Andres Mariño. This is the very house that the first Philippine flag was sewn by hand by Marcella Agoncillo.
5. Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay
The image of Our Lady of Caysasay is a small image of the Mary that is smaller than the usual Marian images by only about 2 feet I think. The Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay is built out of coral stones. The legend goes: The Virgin’s image was caught in the fishnet of a religious man named Juan Maningkad in 1603 at the Pansipit River (See photo below with mural on the wall of the church depicting the scene of the fisherman).
7. Don Juan Boodle House
Taal is know for their tapa, so this is what I had for lunch. At the Taal Market, they also sell loads of tapa as well as a special type of empanada plus kapeng barako.
There are still a few ancestral houses turned museum under the management of the National Historic Commission that you can visit. You may visit taal.com.ph.
Related links:
Day 1: Places Visit in Quezon, Laguna, Batangas for a Day
3 Things You Can Do in an Hour in Tayabas, Quezon
Related links:
Day 1: Places Visit in Quezon, Laguna, Batangas for a Day
3 Things You Can Do in an Hour in Tayabas, Quezon
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