The Ruins, Italian-style mansion ruins in Talisay, Philippines
The Ruins is an Italian-style mansion in Talisay, Philippines, now standing as a cement structure defined by columns, arches, and detailed window frames reaching multiple levels. The building reveals various rooms and spaces where living areas, bedrooms, and terraces once existed.
Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson built this mansion in 1920 as a memorial to his Portuguese wife Maria, who died during pregnancy with their eleventh child. The structure thus stands as a monument to a personal loss from that era.
The mansion reflects architectural choices made by wealthy Filipino sugar barons in the early 1900s, blending Italian and Mediterranean styles that still appear in the remaining structure. The spaces show how these families lived and what design traditions they valued.
Visitors can reach the site from Bacolod City by taking a northbound jeepney followed by a tricycle ride, with entry fees around 150 Philippine pesos. The best time to visit is in the morning when light streams through the open window frames.
The structure was set ablaze for three days in the 1940s by Filipino guerrilla fighters to prevent Japanese forces from using it during occupation. Despite the intense flames, the cement building endured and survived this destructive attempt.
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