A heritage walk in Mexico's Parian

Parian, Mexico's poblacion, was the town's busy commercial district in the 18th century, when Chinese traders and their mestizo descendants made it Pampanga's own Parián. Its old houses are close together.

1. The church and belfry

Start at Santa Monica Parish Church. The belfry is all that survived the 1880 earthquake of the 1665 church.

2. The mansions

Walk to 2nd Street for the Lazatin-Henson-Katigbak Mansion behind Jollibee and Bale Mi, the Sandico family's 1827 house, now an events venue. On Arayat Road is the Rivera-Panlilio Ancestral House. All but Bale Mi are private homes.

3. Cookies

Stop at Dandy's San Nicolas Cookies on J.P. Rizal Street for the town's famous arrowroot shortbread.

4. Lunch with a master

If you have booked ahead with a group of ten or more, finish at Kusinang Matua, Atching Lillian Borromeo's heritage kitchen in an ancestral house in Parian.

Outside the centre, visit San Jose Matulid Chapel and the Sabanilla Chapel.