Graciano Lopez-Jaena Shrine

The sheer number of historical landmarks and buildings is enough of reason to say that the city of Iloilo is a treasure trove of historical treasures within the province. Visitors definitely shouldn’t miss to visit the many historical landmarks that dot the city to feel the cultural hereitage of the city.

The city is very unique because it features the combination of the colonial past and western influence that add to the arts and culture of the city.

The exotic architecture of the Catholic churches in the province reveals the religious significance of the province. The buildings were established during the Spanish period but have survived up till now despite the passage of time.

The shrines and landmarks in the city showcase the wonderful and rich history of Iloilo City that preserved despite the test of time.

Historical Landmarks:

• Fort San Pedro - Built by the Spaniards in the early 1600s and was attacked by the British, American and Japanese troops.
• Graciano Lopez-Jaena Shrine -  Graciano López Jaena was a Filipino journalist, orator, and revolutionary from Iloilo, well known for his written work, La Solidaridad. His shrine is one of the preserved historical sites of the city. His family lived in the province. The Order of DeMolay Chapter, Graciano Lopez-Jaena Chapter, was founded around 1965 in Jaro, Iloilo city.
• Muelle Loney - The River Port of Iloilo named after British Consul Nicholas Loney, who is considered the father of sugar industry in Panay and Negros. Protected by the Island of Guimaras from typhoons, Muelle Loney is one of the safest harbors in the Country. It was opened to international market in 1855.
• Carpenter Bridge - Connects the Molo and Mandurriao districts of the city. It is one of the historical tourist destinations built by the city.
• Jaro Belfry - One of the few belfries in a country that stands apart from the church. It was constructed by the Spaniards to serve also as a watchtower to monitor Muslim invasion from Mindanao. The colonial structure was ruined by an earthquake in 1948, but was restored decades later, in the mid-1990s.
• Old Provincial Capitol - A National Historical Site. The building was built with wood and stone during the Spanish colonization. It served as the capitol when the civil government of Iloilo was founded in 1901. The National Historical Institute (NHI) formally recognized the Old Capitol as a historical landmark through a marker installed on its walls on April 11, 2010
• Replica of the Spanish Crown of Queen Regent Ysabel II - A replica of the Spanish Crown of the Queen Regent of Spain is a symbol and the testimony of a long historic relationship between Iloilo City and Spain, can be found in  Arevalo District.
• Museo de Iloilo - Repository of Iloilo's cultural heritage.

Spanish-American Heritage

• Molo Church/St. Anne Parish - Three kms. from Iloilo city proper; Gothic Rennaissance church made of coral rocks.
• Jaro Cathedral - Repository of Iloilo's cultural heritage.
• Nelly's Garden  - It is one of the famous landmarks in the city that showcases a beautiful expansive landscape grass with a massive art Deco style American-colonial custom house as its surroundings. The garden is owned by the clan of Lopez.
• Sto. Niño de Arevalo Church - It is home to the third oldest Santo Niño figure in the Philippines. The church was built in such a way that when seen from above it is shaped like a cross. Adjacent to the church is the Arevalo Convent which resembles the Spanish colonial design.
• Villa Lizares Mansion / Angelicum School Iloilo - The imposing building, which was once the mansion and villa of the Lizares Family. It is one of the most beautiful mansions in Iloilo. The Lizares mansion was sold to the Dominican Order of the Philippines in the late 1970s, and is now the seat of Angelicum School Iloilo- a private, Catholic school run by the Order of the Preachers (Dominicans), who made the school a pioneer in a non-graded, open-classroom education system in the Philippines. The Angelicum is the most popular landmark visited by local folks every Christmas because of the fabulous display of Christmas lights that decorate each inch of the Lizares Mansion – its oldest building set within a sweeping lawn of green grass – the main feature of the panoramic view of the school.           
• Philippine American Cemetery - It is an American cemetery that is considered as a heritage site in Iloilo.  The veterans as well as American citizens are buried here. The site has strict security. Before you can enter you have to ask a permissions to the caretaker. The tombs have a uniform structure.

Accommodations

Here is the list of some of the hotels that can be found near in the province should you spend more time to visit the attractions of Iloilo:

• Hotel Del Rio 

Location: M.H. Del Pilar St., City Proper, Iloilo / Guimaras, Philippines 5000

• Harbor Town Hotel 

Location: Corner JM Basa - Aldeguer Streets, City Proper, Iloilo / Guimaras, Philippines

• Iloilo Midtown Hotel 

Location: Corner Yulo - Iznart Streets, City Proper, Iloilo / Guimaras, Philippines 5000

• Days Hotel Iloilo 

Location: The Atrium at the Capitol, Cor Gen. Luna- Bonifacio Dr, City Proper, Iloilo / Guimaras, Philippines 5000

• Circle Inn - Iloilo City Center 

Location: Iznart Street, Maria Clara, City Proper, Iloilo / Guimaras, Philippines

• Iloilo Business Hotel 

Location: Benigno Aquino Avenue, Mandurriao, Iloilo / Guimaras, Philippines 5000

 

Accessibility

Iloilo Province is located in Western Visayas and can be reached by plane, bus, ferry or roro (roll-on-roll-off) from Manila.

By Air:

There are direct flights to Iloilo Intenational Airport and take around 50 minutes from Manila. Once there, one can ride a shuttle van or taxi going to Iloilo City.

 List of airlines that have daily trips to Manila to Iloilo:

• Cebu Pacific
• Air Philippines
• Philippine Airlines
• Zest Air

By Sea:

From Manila Ports, the travel time going to Iloilo Domestic Port, located along General Hughes St.,  is about 20 hours.

By Land:

There are buses from Manila that have trips to Iloilo City. The bus uses the roro (roll-on-roll-off) services going to Iloilo. The bus terminals in Cubao and Pasay have buses with trips going to Iloilo.

When touring the province, taxis and jeepneys are available as a mode of transportation around the province.