Travelers who enjoy places with historical value or places that evoke a certain era will appreciate the architectural treasures that Sitio Remedios has to offer. The seaside resort is located in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, and is a compound made up of old stone houses (bahay na bato), some of them dating back to the Spanish era. A stay in the resort is like traveling back in time, as everything is either an antique, or made to look like one.
Guests enter the resort through the Avenida de Azucao, a replica of an old brick bridge. The walkway is lined with pools with azucao, or lotus plants, which once grew abundantly in the Paoay Lake. Plants like cacti and kalachuchi likewise line the path, which leads up to one of the most arresting outdoor areas in the Sitio, the Plaza de San Miguel. The first thing one sees is a fountain topped by a statue of San Miguel slaying a demon. To the side is the Capilla de San Miguel, where on-site weddings can be held.
In front of the chapel is Plaza de Manzanilla, the main courtyard, whose three sides are lined with stone buttresses inspired by the Paoay church. The plaza’s floors are made from flat, irregular coral stones from Pasuquin in the north. The plaza takes its name from the manzanilla bushes that surround it.
Lining the plaza are the old houses, or balays, each with their own name painted on a sign that sits outside. The houses range from one bedroom bungalows to two-storey two bedroom affairs and can sleep anywhere from two to eight persons. Even though the accommodations date back to the turn of the century, this does not mean that they lack the conveniences of modern life. All rooms are air-conditioned, and most bathrooms have hot and cold showers.
Guests have free reign of the resort, whose facilities include an infinity pool; a spa named Ablon, the Ilocano term for healing through massage; Abrao, the in-house restaurant that specializes in Ilocano dishes, Lako, a gift shop that offers an array of local products; and of course, access to the beachfront.
The resort is also a popular party place, with the plazas available for rent for special occasions. Aside from those mentioned, there is also the Teatro Iloco and Plaza, which is a good venue for cultural presentations and al fresco dinners. The Sitio has spaces available for indoor events as well. The Centro Iloco de Juan Luna is a fully air-conditioned conference hall (a must to escape the Ilocos Norte heat, which can be quite stifling) that resembles an old Spanish meeting area.
Sitio Remdios is the kind of resort that will be enjoyed not just by travelers who love history, architecture, and design, but also by those who are fond of the fine art of relaxation as well.