Like travelling back in time, retrace history through this charming heritage town.

"As we drove through the paved roads of Batangas, we couldn’t help being mesmerised by the sheer beauty of Taal Lake and the palmfringed ridges that gradually unfold into view. We went on until we reached the end of the town of Sta. Teresita, and from this point, our journey to the heritage town of Taal began."

Some quick facts about Taal:

1) The heritage town of Taal was founded in 1952 by Fray Diego Espinas in its old site located along the coast of Balangon, a barangay in what is now known as the town of Agoncillo.

The facade of the Basilica de Saint Martin de Tours

2) When the Muslims attacked and destroyed it in 1575, Espinas decided to transfer the populace to the lakeside where the municipality of San Nicolas now stands.

3) In 1581, with Taal as its capital, the province of Batangas was established.

An heirloom dining table take centre stage at Villa Tortuga's dining room

4) The unfortunate eruption of the Taal Volcano in 1749 devastated the town, and this prompted the movement of the capital to its present location, an uphill site overlooking the scenic Balayan Bay.

The Galleria Taal on Agoncillo Street

5) Other points of interest: Casa Villavicencio, San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps, Well of Sta. Lucia

6) Things to check out: Tablea (chocolate tablets), Barako coffee, Suman (local rice cake wrapped in banana leaves), Tapa (marinated pork), EmpanadaBurdang Taal (intricately hand-embroidered apparel)

Villa Tortuga's famous ensaladang Taal

Words by Maritess Garcia-Reyes | Photography by Kathleen Cruz and Art Oca | Unearth more of Taal's treasures in Philippine Tatler Traveller Volume 5. Digitally available in Magzter and Zinio.