Panamá Viejo Cathedral, Colonial cathedral in Panamá Province, Panama
Panamá Viejo Cathedral is a colonial religious building in Panama Province featuring a high gabled roof and two plastered towers. Its interior contains three main naves accessed through ornate entrance doors, along with multiple vaulted rooms beneath the sanctuary used for various administrative and storage functions.
Military engineer Nicolás Rodríguez designed the cathedral, whose construction began in 1688 and extended over a century until 1796. This prolonged building project reflects the challenges of constructing such a large structure in the Spanish colony.
The facade displays Renaissance carvings that reflect Jesuit architectural influences shaping religious buildings in colonial Panama. These decorative elements remain visible to visitors examining the entrance areas today.
Visitors should be prepared to explore multiple levels within the structure, including the underground vaulted rooms beneath the main sanctuary. Allow adequate time to walk through the entire interior and view all sections at a comfortable pace.
The bells within the building date from the 18th century and replaced earlier ones damaged in fires during the cathedral's early decades. These historic bells are a rare surviving element from that period of frequent fires.
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