ATTRACTIONS

A.  Historical and Cultural Landmarks

Rizal Shrine  - major historical landmark of theCity.  It is the original estate of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, who lived for four  years in Dapitan  as an exile from July 17, 1892 to July 31, 1896.Other  structures  that  could  be  found at the Rizal Shrine are the  following:
a.  Casa Cuadrada - Rizal’s Home together with members of his family who came to visit him.  It has been faithfully reconstructed in its original light, native materials.
 

b.   Casa Redonda - an octagonal dwelling which served as the pupils quarters.  It was later converted to a clinic and it was here where George Taufer, the foster father of Josephine Bracken was operated on his eyes.

c.   Casa Redonda Pequena - a hexagonal structure which served as the chicken house.

d.   Casitas de Salud - there are two of these structures intended as tea houses but which our national hero converted into clinics to accommodate patients from far flung municipalities.

e.   Aqueduct - a reservoir which served as a good water system.  Bamboo tubes used to connect the diversion canal to the kitchen and lavatory.

f.    Mi Retiro Rock - it is a natural heart shaped rock so called because it was here where our national hero is known to have  scribbled  beautiful  verses  of  his  famous  poem  “Mi Retiro” and “Himno a Talisay”. He also spent many hours watching the sunset here.

g.   Amphitheater - an open air auditorium with a seating capacity of 500 which was constructed beyond the Mi Retiro Rock by the city government from funds from the office of the Reginal Commissioner headed by Rear Admiral Romulo M. Espaldon, now Minister for Muslim Affairs.

h.   Rizaliana - a modern, concrete building constructed in 1972 which houses all Rizalian books, periodicals and all sorts of historical exhibits.  Part of it also serves as the Office of the Rizal Shrine Curator.

 3.     Ilihan Hill -   To  protect    thriving    settlements   from    foreign invasions,  the Spanish government constructed military fortress in strategic  places. One  of  these   was  “Fort de Dapitan”  which was  established  in  1762  at   about  the  same   time  as  Fort  Pilar in  Zamboanga City, Fort Misamis in Ozamis City and Fort Iligan  in Iligan    City.   “Fort de Dapitan”  was   strategically  constructed on  top  of Ilihan  Hill  which  is  located  in  the   Poblacion overlooking Dapitan Bay.  A  stone  wall  was constructed  along  its  slopes  and a  guard  house with mounted cannons.

      
Relics of this ancient military fortress are still  visible at Ilihan Hill.  Two cannons were taken from   the fortress, however, and have been installed at the  City Plaza just across the City Hall.

 4.     City Square   -   The  present  City  Square is the very Plaza which Dr. Jose P. Rizal developed  and  beautified   with  the  assistance  of Gov. Ricardo Carnicero.  His plan was  to  beautify  it  to  make it comparable with the   ones he saw in Europe.

5.     St. James Church  -   These   two   edifices symbolize  the early   Christianization of Dapitan.  The old Spanish masonry and architecture  are still evident even if a century has elapsed since their construction.

6.     Our Lourdes Grotto - Rocky hillock located almost at the Southwest foot of Ilihan Hill.      B.   Historical Markers Sta. Cruz  -  Site  where  Dr.  Jose  P. Rizal landed 7:00 o’clock P.M.  on  July  17,  1892  to begin  the   life of an exile in Dapitan.  With  Captain  Delgras and three   artillery   men,  they  walked  through  Sta.  Cruz  Street  with  a “Farol de Combate” to the Casa  Real  where   he   was   presented   to   Don Ricardo   Carnicero, Spanish Military Governor of the District.