Carcar is touted as the Heritage City of Cebu Island, as its structures date back to the Spanish (1800’s) and American (1900’s) era. Elaborate architectural details are prominent; strolling the streets of this quaint little town is a lot like going back to those ancient years. Among the main attractions of Carcar are the ancestral homes, which have been restored much to the tourists’ delight.
One of the oldest houses in Carcar is the Balay na Tisa (House of Clay), located on Sta. Catalina St. It is known as Balay na Tisa because of its distinctive clay tiled roof. The ancestral home was passed on from three prominent clans, the Sarmientos, the Osmenas and the Valencias. The mansion, still intact and with furniture still in good condition, is open to tourists for appreciation.
The St. Catherine of Alexandria Church is the second oldest church in Cebu Island. Built in 1859, the stone church’s architectural design is of Muslim influence, in spark contrast with belle époque designs of its contemporaries.
Adding to the old-city charm of Carcar are its mouth-watering delicacies. The most famous is the Carcar chicharon (pork rind cracklings), strips of pork skin deep-fried to gustatory perfection. There are also candies to satisfy your sweet tooth – ampao (sweet rice crisps), bucarillo (coconut candy) and pastilles (milk candy).
