Legazpi City
Most tourists come to Legazpi just to see and maybe climb the renown Mayon Volcano. Other attractions are Kapuntukan Hill, Puro Beach and the Tourism Month Festival of May.
Legazpi City, 545km (338mi) from Manila, is the largest city in South Luzon. It serves as the national government center for region 5 (which covers the provinces of Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate). In spite of its size and politi-cal importance, the city itself in 1988 ap-pears less dynamic than its sister city to the north, Naga. The reason might be the severe damage it sustained from Typhoon Sisang in November, 1987. Some practical consequences of the damage are the lack of full electrical and telephone services in the area. Also some of the resorts have had to close down due to damage by Sisang.
The city began at a place called Sawangan, now the Legazpi Port district, and was populated by fishermen and farmers. Under the Spanish the area was under the civil and spirtual administration of Franciscan friars. By Royal Decree the town was named in honor of Miguel Lopez de Lagazpi, the first Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines, September 22, 1856.
It changed status from city to municipality several times during its history. Today, Legazpi City has 70 barangays and a population (1988 est.) of 119,369.
Accommodation
La Trinidad Hotel (19) - Rizal St, Tel 29-51
rm 304-570 (ac,tb,hw,tel)
rest, swpl, shopping arcade, cinemas, generator; best hotel in the city
Hotel Casa Blanca (3) - Penaranda St
Tel 31-30; rm 235-314 (ac,tb)
rest, disco, generator; good quality
Legazpi Plaza Hotel (35) - Lapu-Lapu St
Tel 33-44; rm 123-235; rest, disco
good reputation among local people
Executive Tourist Inn (32)
3rd fl V&O Bldg, Lapu-Lapu St, Tel. 35-33
rm 90-220; monthly P 1,320; rest, gener-ator, clean, central location, good value
Lanchuling Int'l House (36) - Jasmin St
rm 89-202; rest, conf halls, generator; hotel can feel deserted at night; roof deck offers lovely view of Mayon Volcano
Albay Hotel (2) - Penaranda St, Tel 22-18
rm 98-250; dorm 30 pp; 5 story bldg, hotel is on fl 3 and 4; bldg slightly damaged by typhoon
Rex Hotel (12) - Penaranda cor
Aguinaldo Sts, Tel 27-43
rm 65-176; corner rm 303 offers impres-sive view of Mayon Volcano, two balconies
Mayon Hotel (18) - Penaranda St, Tel 22-12
rm 83-134; simple; rest
Xandra Hotel (17) - Penaranda St, Tel 26-88
rm 40-88; rest; simple, basic facilities
Ritz Pension (6) - Penaranda St
beside station, Tel 26-70
rm 35-150; only 2 rms have ac; old, basic
Shirman Lodging House (4) - Penaranda St
next to train station; rm 50-200
pension on 2nd fl; go-go disco on gr fl
Majestic Lodging House (1) - Penaranda St
Tel 25-20; rm 39-48; entrance behind another old bldg; used and dark looking
Catalina Lodging House (8)
96 Penaranda St Tel 35-93; rm 30-50
small homey place, good for budget travelers, meals are served informally in the hall area, doors close at 22:00
Restaurants
Peking House (13) - Penaranda St (Chinese)
Waway Rest. (7) - Penaranda St (Fil)
Quick n' Hearty (22) - Rizal St (fast-food)
Sightseeing
Unknown Hero's Monument (33)
Quezon Ave, near the harbor
Battle of Legazpi Monument (16)
junction Quezon Ave and Rizal St
St Raphael Church (9)
Penaranda St cor Aguinaldo St
Shopping
Public Market (15) - the major landmark in the city proper; the market is a good place to shop around for local handicrafts made of abaca
Handicraft Stalls (28) - Circumferential Rd
Liberty Commercial Center (23) - Rizal cor Penaranda St
Miscellaneous
Department of Tourism - Tel 44-92, 40-26
the only tourist office in South Luzon; jeepneys from the market going toward Daraga; one should get off at Legazpi City Hall. This area is away from the city center and is the main district for regional and local government offices. The tourism office is across the park. Informa-tion about guides to Mayon Volcano
Post Office (30) - Lapu-Lapu St
PLTD (11) - Alonzo St
Phil Nat'l Bank (20) - Rizal cor Elizondo St
Government Public Information Center (25)
Quezon Ave
Bureau of Forestry (31) - Lapu-Lapu St
Transportation
Airport (37) - northwest of the city along Lakandula St
PAL Office (21) - Rizal St
Sunshine Tours (19) - Rizal St
gr fl La Trinidad Hotel
Philtranco Bus Terminal (27)
Circumferential Rd cor Imperial St
to Manila (12 hrs) - numerous buses
btw 8:00 and 20:00
J.B. Liner Bus Terminal (24) - Mabini St
route Manila - Legazpi
Jeepneys to Sto. Domingo and Tabaco (14)
across from public market
Mini Bus Terminal (26) - beside market
buses to the towns in the region; jeepneys and mini-buses usually only operate btw 5:00 and 17:00
Train Station (5) - Penaranda St; trains no longer come to the city; the station is open but only serves as an information of-fice about trains to and from Manila which leave from and arrive at other sta-tions north of Legazpi; last station for trains from and to Manila is Camalig, 12km (7.5mi) northwest of Legazpi; jeep-neys to Legazpi wait for the train at Camalig station
Harbor (34) - the city harbor does not serv-ice any long-distance passenger ships
More on South Luzon:
This page: http://www.cockatoo.com/english/philippines/philippines_islands_south_luzon7.htm
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