taal heritage village

After a day long walk up the Hill to Taal Lake & Volcano, we ended up back where they keep the ponies .....The wife says the restroom was nice so I beleive her. Lots of souveniers and great views from the trails around there. Food was reasonable and tasty.

Much of the town has been restored to its original grandeur - you can visit the church (including a tour through the old rooms and up to the bell tower). Then, spend some time walking through the town to appreciate the architecture. Some of the old homes are open to the public so that you can take a look around inside.Our guide took us through one of the homes of particular historical interest. The tour included a snack of a sticky rice dessert that you dipped in cacao in a cup; as well as regional biscuits that are deep-fried in butter.Take a side trip through the market and see the local specialties - elaborate dress-making and the traditional embroidery and fabrics. Also available in the town along the roads are the Butterfly knife (which were invented in this town). As it was the holiday season, there was a barbecue being set up next to the market selling interesting delicacies, such as chicken intestines and pigs ears on sticks, cooked over a fire.

You will be relaxed by the views in Taal heritage town. Hear mass in the biggest Catholic church and be amazed in century-old museums.The ancestral houses are a must to visit and appreciate the beauty of the old Philippines. Away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis..

I do HDR Photography so I loved being in Taal. It was a great day trip out of Manila. I came the day there was a service at the church so that rocked any more.

The main road in the Heritage Village is akin to Vigan's Calle Crisologo minus the cobblestones. The homes in Taal look friendlier than the huge Vigan mansions covering entire blocks. The Taal mansions and homes are nevertheless as grand, if not actually grander. I have visited the most popular heritage homes enough for me to conclude that the best of the lot is Casa Villavicencio, the wedding gift house of a wealthy shipowner to his equally wealthy wife. Here, an entrance fee of P100 per person entitles the guests to a Native merienda of hot chocolate and rice cake, and a piece of local bread.The next best and a very close second favorite is the Gregorio Agoncillo Mansion at the end of the road, also known as the White House.Do not miss Villa Tortuga and for a fee, wear old Filipiniana attire and have yourselves photographed, and finish on sepia for a period look. Other interesting spots are the Galleria Taal, a museum displaying old cameras and photographs, the Apacible House where you could get a chance to see a balisong maker in action, the Marcela Agoncillo House where the first Philippine flag was sewed (not the first flag of the Philippine Republic which she sewed while in exile in Hongkong). The tour could also include the Taal Basilica and the Church of Our Lady of Caysasay. If you have time, also visit nearby San Nicolas, which is the site of the first Taal town.Cap the tour at local cafes with settings depicting the era.

A heritage town close to my heart. Im a proud Batanguenia and this is one place in Batangas that you should visit especially if you're a history buff. There are several old ancestral house open for the public. Visit one of Asia's biggest church Basilica of San Martin de Tours, The Marcela Agoncillo Shrine, The Villavicencio Wedding house, The amazing vintage camera museum at Galleria Taal, and dont forget to stop at Villa Tortuga to wear colonial customs and enjoy a colonial lunch. Complete your visit by dropping by at the nearby Taal Market and taste their special empanada and tapang taal. A lot of great things to keep you busy in a day! Please visit my blogs for reviews and photos. http://mommyqueenelizabeth.blogspot.com/2011/09/tour-de-taal.html

I like being transported in the past! The town has so much cultural heritage! So amazing to see the preserved ancestral houses including the Agoncillos :)

Its so nice to see old houses especially centuries old like there is in this town. Privately owned mansions have an entrance fee of 70php up while govt owned are free but donations are welcome. Taal basilica is a sight to behold. The Lady of Caysasay church should be paid a homage and worship.

It’s a pity that all the heritage sites and ancestral homes in Taal (Batangas) are being lumped altogether under one collective heading when they should be reviewed individually. Each one, after all, possesses its own historical significance and had a tremendous impact in our country’s beginnings. Be sure to visit the carefully preserved houses (with their contents almost unbelievably intact too) of LEON APACIBLE, of MARCELA AGONCILLO (she who sewed the first Philippine flag), and many others. Don’t skip the only camera museum in the country (GALERIA TAAL) and marvel at its extensive collection of vintage cameras and photographic equipment (all working, we were told). Learn a lot from each place you visit and, though most offer free admission, contributions are most welcome as they rely chiefly on voluntary donations to sustain their operations. Picture-taking is allowed so bring your cameras.

A good example of a well preserve Spanish colonial town near manila. It's a 2-3 hrs drive away from manila and a day tour is enough to explore the place. There are several ancestral house that are converted into a museum and admission is free! but be kind and donate so they can preserve the place. The town is also famous for being the balisong and barong capital of the Philippines. Also don't forget to try their own version of tapa (tapang taal) and coffee (kapeng barako).

Hi, is anyone can recommend and provide private driver contact for our (4 pax) visit to taal on 13/5/14? What is the price for hire a day trip? Thank you.

This was a side trip from our Tagaytay stay. Taal town is about 45mins away (more or less) from Taal Vista, our point of departure. Enjoy the drive through the scenic mountain route. Others may liken its vibe to Vigan, but I would disagree. In terms of historical significance maybe it tops Vigan, but architecture wise, if Vigan is a 10, Taal would be a 5-6. so don't expect much of that. The charm of this place lays in its quaint, quiet vibe. A wonderful place to walk around. It is more like Lucban and Majayjay than Vigan. Not much to do, since most of its attractions, the home/museums are either open for pre-booking, or closes early. The Cathedral though is a delight. Do not hesitate to pay 50php for a guided tour up the Belfry. Look for a kindly male guard on duty named Soriano (didn't catch his last name) .. Very nice and knowledgeable fellow. His guided tour was the highlight of our visit. Highly recommended!

I am not from Batangas and my previous trips to this province was to the beach. But we learned from our grade and high school history books that Batangas was home to many of our heros as is true for many other provinces around the Philippines from the Spanish times to present times. As I mature, I realize that each has a great life story to tell.Places of interest here in Taal are the Basilica de San Martin de Tours, the Church of Our Lady of Caysasay, the homes of important men and women during the Spanish revolution and the countless other people that played an important role in our History, the Taal lake and rivers.Also, the Taal Barong is known nationwide for its extremely fine workmanship and class this Filipino dresses can be made from Pina ( pineapple fiber ), Jusi ( banana fiber ), Ramie Linen ( cotton ) or a combination of two, to my knowledge.Not to be missed are the food - taal longanisa and tapang taal. And because the waters in their lake and rivers have become cleaner, the fish and shell fish taste better. And even their vegetables.They have several almost a century-old hotels in Taal. Some updated, some not. But it would be nice to spend a long weekend in this town that has plenty of young and old folks alike.There are several professional tour guides who live in Taal. One should consider hiring them. Book in advance.

Taal is a small town in Batangas that is preserved by its government. It didnt open the place for business or new developments. For you to appreciate the visit, its recommended that you walk around the town, all places are accessible and safe. Also, drop by at the 100 steps of San Lorenzo Ruiz and the miraculous well of our Lady of Caysasay.

A must-see for Filipinos. Turning in to the main street towards Basilica St. Martin de Tours is like stepping back in time. Definitely visit the Ilagan-Barrion House where the Camera Museum is. Walk through the streets and admire the preserved houses from the Spanish era. Take a break from the walking and enjoy a cold drink and some nibbles at Cafe G just a stone's throw away from the basilica.