Sinking Bell TowerSinking Bell Tower is a Registered Property, City of Laoag, Ilocos Norte located at Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Region I.
Among all the towers in the Philippines, the Laoag belfry is known to be the most unique construction. The whole edifice looks like four enormous square blocks placed one on top of the other in the diminishing order of their sizes with a dome on top. Each segment displays a distinctive design with the corners enhancing greatly the attractiveness of the whole structure. On each of the four sides of the tower are eight windows. The highest segment of the belfry is reached from the gate below through a tunnel —like ramp that winds around the center leading upward. Were it not for this spiral passage the edifice would be almost completely solid. This belfry is similar to a famous bell tower in Italy, according to a year book.
The Sinking Bell Tower is reputed to be the tallest belfry in the country as it rises to a height of 45 m from the base. It is one of the earliest historical structures in the Philippines. Its foundation which is 16 1/2 square meters was built not long after the organization of Laoag as a parish in 1580.