# Solano (Nueva Vizcaya)

Solano is the largest town in Nueva Vizcaya. It is a major commercial center, a boom town, and a major stopover on the way from Manila going to Banaue or Tuguegarao. It has a population of about 60,000.

## Understand

Solano originated as the village of Bintauan, and was first inhabited by the indigenous Gaddang people. In 1767, a Spanish Dominican mission was set up, and in 1768, the town was renamed to Lungabang, from a Gaddang word for cave; the Spaniards soon respelled it to Lumabang for convenience.
For a year, between 1851, Lumabang is downgraded to a barrio of Bayombong due to its small population size. The Governor General of the Philippines of that time, Antonio Urbiztondo soon made the town independent again, which is followed by the entry of the first Ilocano settlers arrived in 1853. In 1889, Lumabang was renamed to Solano after another Spanish Governor General, Ramón Solano y Llanderal.
Solano municipality used to be the largest municipality of Nueva Vizcaya until the barrios of Caliat and Bintawan was separated and made their own municipalities, renamed Villaverde and Quezon. With its large population and commercial activity, Solano is eyed to become the next city in Cagayan Valley, and the first for Nueva Vizcaya.
Solano poblacion or town center is a planned town, with 20 m (66 ft) streets laid out in a grid and blocks measuring a hectare in size. It is then divided into six barangays. The central Catholic church, the plaza, the public market and the transport terminal is at the rough center of town. Commercial activity is concentrated along Maharlika Hwy (Rte 1/AH26), which passes through town as Rizal and Aquino avenues.

## Get in
### By bus

* Solano Transport Terminal (Around the Poblacion North barangay hall). A small and simple bus and jeepney station, with a single shelter for jeepneys. Boarding for buses is at the parking area; jeepneys depart from the single shelter. Tricycles are available, waiting along the street (updated Oct 2020)
For buses not terminating at Solano, stops are at the Total gas station (northbound) and Solano East Central School (southbound).

### By jeepney

Solano Transport Terminal is served by jeepneys running from Bagabag, Bambang, Banaue, Lamut, Quezon, Santa Fe, Santiago City, and Villaverde with the services from Bambang and Quezon served by modern jeepneys.

## Get around

Solano is a large town with wide streets, but is walkable. The main sights are within walking distance, so is the public market and the commercial area.
There are tricycle stands around the bus and jeepney station, the church and the public market.

## See

* 16.51776121.180741 Heroes' Park (Canyon Park), Maharlika Hwy. Open 24 hours. A small park housing a preserved World War II cannon. Free. (updated Oct 2020)
* 16.51843121.180492 St. Louis Beltran Parish Church, J.P. Rizal Ave.. Solano's central Roman Catholic parish church is not very special architecturally, but it houses a replica of the Black Nazarene. (updated Oct 2020)
* 16.51904121.181073 Solano Museum, J.P. Rizal Ave (Inside St. Louis School). (updated Oct 2020)
* 16.544716.54474 Bangaan Rolling Hills, West Washington St, Bangaan. Open 24 hours. A hidden paradise, beautiful hill formations,view of the town and full of grass, sadly due to sudden visit from both local and tourists the pathway is already widened making the hills less elegant. Free. (updated Sep 2023)
* 16.51811121.180215 Solano Children's Park, Maharlika Hwy (just infront of the church). Open 24 hours. Free. (updated Sep 2023)

## Do

* 16.5186121.08691 Nueva Vizcaya Paragliding, Bayombong-Amabaguio Road, Sitio Naduntog, Bayombong. 9AM–5PM. (updated Sep 2023)

## Buy

* Solano Public Market. (updated Oct 2020)
Solano has two banks with ATMs that accept foreign cards, Metrobank and PNB.

## Eat

* 16.5134121.17961 TGIF Resto, Plaridel Street. 10:30AM–8PM. Good Food presentation, great combo, and awesome taste! (updated Sep 2023)
* 16.5122121.17912 Deodato's Pizza Solano, Dupan Street. 10AM–7PM. (updated Sep 2023)
* 16.5117121.18033 District Silog, Dupan Street. 7AM–8:30PM. (updated Sep 2023)
* 16.512121.18194 Myra's Panciteria, #27 Espino Street. 8AM–6PM. (updated Sep 2023)
* 16.5128121.17645 キクハナ kikuhana, Pan-Philippine Highway. 11:30AM–8PM. Japanese restaurant. (updated Sep 2023)
* 16.51772121.179866 Above Sea Level, Abbacan Street. 10AM–8:30PM. (updated Sep 2023)

## Sleep

* 16.518058121.1858141 AM-PM Lodge, Pan Philippine Highway, ☏ +63 78 32 65977. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Clean fan double rooms with own bathroom and cable TV. Free WIfi. (updated Mar 2015)
* 16.521121.17492 Balai Gloria Hotel, West Washington Street. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Hotel/Function Room/Wellness Center. (updated Sep 2023)
* 16.5171121.17943 Meaco Royal Hotel - Solano, B. Aquino Avenue, Solano, 3709 Nueva Vizcaya. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2023)
* 16.5192121.18274 Governor's Garden Hotel, J. Manzano St., Barangay Poblacion North. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2023)
* 16.50694121.178455 The WilWin Hotel, Acierto Street, Bayombong. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2023)

## Cope

St. Louis Beltran Parish holds Mass in English, Ilocano and Tagalog at 6AM daily, 6PM every Wednesday and the first Friday of every month, and 6AM, 8AM, 4:30PM, and 6PM every Sunday.