Ilocos Norte is best known as the home province of former president Ferdinand Marcos. The province has many old Spanish Churches, the best known being St. William’s Cathedral in the capital city, Laoag. There are a number of popular beaches in the province, including Currimao, La Paz, Seksi Beach, Pagudpud and Saud Beach. A fascinating feature of Laoag is the Tobacco Monopoly Monument, a memorial to the lifting of the tobacco monopoly by the Spanish government in 1881. The Sinking Belltower in Laoag is one of the tallest in the country, while the Acrobatic Belltower of Bacarra gains its name from the effects of earthquake damage. Memories of the Marcos era abound in the province, including Balay Ti Ili, the ancestral house of the Marcoses in Batac, which showcases the memorabilia of the late president. Malacañang of the North, on the shores of legendary Paoay Lake, is now a museum.Cape Bojeador Lighthouse stands on a promontory in Burgos and is still operational. Paoay Church, built of coral blocks and stucco-plastered bricks, is a unique combination of Gothic, Baroque and Oriental architectural styles. The church is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.