Iloilo Heritage Tour

Iloilo City wears its history proudly, from grand colonial churches to Art Deco facades along its old commercial street. This heritage tour introduces the most important landmarks of this proud Visayan city, beginning with Molo Church, a striking neo-Gothic structure built in 1831 and nicknamed the feminist church for the sixteen images of female saints lining its interior.

The route continues to Jaro Cathedral, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles, distinguished by its belfry standing across the street from the main church, a rarity among Philippine cathedrals. Along the way you walk Calle Real (J.M. Basa Street), the heart of the heritage district, lined with beautifully preserved Spanish and American colonial buildings, many in elegant Art Deco style.

Stops at Museo Iloilo and grand ancestral mansions such as Molo Mansion round out the picture of a city that grew rich on sugar and trade. Your guide brings the era of the sugar barons to life, explaining the architecture, the faith and the families that shaped Iloilo into one of the most heritage-rich cities in the country.