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Greetings from Panama! My name is Marina Ehrman and I have been a professional tour guide and promoter for Panama Tourism and Travel Company since 2005. I love what I do and am proud to share what my country has to offer. It is filled with endless leisure and commercial attractions, friendly happy people who open their doors to all visitors. Panama is a country of incomparable natural beauty with a variety of tourist attractions, beautiful beaches in the Pacific and Caribbean. The tropical climate year round with its diversified flora, fauna and indigenous groups make it one of the most important of Ecotourism in Latin America. I invite you to know our country’s history, culture and also enjoy the cuisine, folklore and traditions that only a place in the world can provide………Panama! Contact me and I’ll organize your visit and will be happy to welcome you in Panama. For more information on Panama, follow my Facebook page and my blog. Visit www.panamatourismtravel.com
Showing posts with label panama city day tour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label panama city day tour. Show all posts

The Flat Arch and Santo Domingo Church


Tour Suggest


The Dominican friars began to build their church and convent in new Panama immediately after the founding of the city. In Old Panama they had a substantial building of stone, and some of this entered into the edifice in the new city. In the fire of 1756 all the woodwork was burned and the church was not rebuilt. It is a typical piece of the architecture of the period, the façade still showing where the towers rose, and the little statue of Saint

Dominic still standing above the board front entrance. The church is situated on the corner of Avenue A and 3rd Street. It is built of rubble masonry, with dimension stone in the façade, and was erected by the lay brothers of the order. It is 75 feet wide and 120 feet long. The nave is 70 feet deep. Instead of having side naves the church has three arches or vaults for shrines on each side, and one arch on each side for entrances, that on the street side for the people and on the side opposite as a means of entrance from the old monastery. The apse is 50 feet deep and is formed by three grand arches (one was shattered in the earthquake of 1882) and two side arches. Near the main entrance, forming on of the supports for the choir is a brink arch, spanning a space of 50 feet, 35 feet high at the crown and 25 feet at the spring. So flat an arch is said to be an engineering “sport,” and is pointed out as one of the sights of the city.




Much interest centers in the old Dominican Church at the corner of Avenue A and Third Street, because of the Flat Arch, fifty feet wide, that spans the portals. The woodwork of the church was burned in the fire of 1756 and was never rebuilt, but the flat arch still stands and the quaint legend that attaches to it is interesting.—The friar who was directing the construction of the church had the arch built as we see it standing, but it fell; a second effort was made to erect the arch and it fell again. It was then that the friar prayed for guidance. In a vision it was revealed to him just how it should be constructed, and so he placed the stones with his own hands just as we see them today and achieved an architectural triumph for it has remained intact, resisting earthquakes and time with no support other than the terminal arches, which fact has puzzled practical architects from all over the world. This old arch also played an important part in building the canal, for the reason that it had remained standing all these years was convincing proof that Panama was outside of the earthquake area, and this fact was a deciding factor in the momentous question of building a lock type canal when the question was being debated as to the feasibility of a sea-level or lock type.




The flat arch collapsed on Friday night, November 7, 2003

Map: Old Panama sightseeing


Tour Suggest







1. King's Bridge

During that time, there was an important bridge that connected the old city of Panama to the trail of mules or Camino Real which was then used to carry the treasures of the New World to Spain. It was built between 1619 and 1634



2 San Jose Convent

The walls of San Jose Church and Convent are still visible and about 110 feet by 59 feet. It has smaller chapels on both sides of the main altar, which was the home of the "Golden Altar". This church belonged to the Agustine Monks. This altar was white washed and more colors painted on, just before Henry Morgan attacked the city. This plan to deceive the pirates worked and the altar was spared. This convent did not burn in the fire of 1671, due to its distance from the main part of town. The altar was moved to the new city of Panamá, into the new San Jose Church



3 Convento de Santo Domingo

Located North of the Plaza Mayor, it included a convent and a church built on one acre of land. This was run by the Dominican Friars, and was one of the smallest churchs in town. The convent was established in 1571, and the stone structure was constructed after 1590. These structures, were lost during the fire.








4 El Obispado

The home and offices of the Catholic Bishop for the colony



5 La Catedral

This was the most important church in the city, in the main plaza. Originally constructed of wood in 1535 and reinforced in 1580. The stone structure was started in 1610 and took 16 years to complete.




6 Cabildo Municipal

The Municipal Building was originally built behind the Cathedral. The building was destroyed in 1612 by an earthquake. When it was rebuilt, it was built of masonry, much large and relocated to the Plaza Mayor.

7 Casa de Genovese
Slave Market was built to house thousands of African slave, imported into Panamá to replace in Indians. The native Indians were insufficient in numbers to meet the large demand for labor. Especially for the transportation of the Treasures to the Caribbean and merchandise back across the Isthmus.


8 Casas Reales
Built in 1556, this complex included the Quartermaster Building, the Court, the Chancellory, the Gun Powder Deposit, the Royal Audience Court and the Residence of the Governor.

9 Jail

The local jail, used to house prisoners. This building was on the seawall, and was heavily damaged by the sea.

10 Kitchen

The main kitchens, used to cook the food for the slaves and garrison. This building was on the seawall, and was heavily damaged by the sea.

11 Matadero

This was the local slaughter house This building was on the seawall, and was heavily damaged by the sea.

12 San Juan de Dios Hospital 

Originally called San Sebastian's Hospital, this was built by the government and run by nuns until 1620, when the friars of San Juan, took over. The hospital includes grounds and a church.





13 Convento de San Francisco 

This convent was run by the Franciscan friars. The Franciscan's were among the first settlers in Panamá, sometime during the 1520's. They established their convent in 1573. In 1603, they constructed the church and monestary of stone. Most of the friars were killed rendering aid to the wounded, during the pirates attack.


14 Convento de La Merced

This is one of the most beautiful, of the ruins of the city. Francisco Pizarro and his men celebrated mass and had communion, before they started their third (final) expedition to Peru. This convent was used as Henry Morgan's headquarters, in 1671, after they saved it from the flames. The church was also used as a warehouse to store the Pirates booty.



15 Navidad Fort

This fort protected the western entrance to the city. It was constructed in 1658, and had a garrison of 50 men, 6 cannons and a small gun power deposit. The fort proved inefective against the Pirates.






16 Matadero Bridge

This bridge was also called the "Morgan Bridge" because this was the bridge that Morgan used to gain enterance to the city, in 1671. It was later called the Matadero Bridge, because it was used by the farmers, when they took their livestock to get slaughtered. This bridge is on the road to Cruces and el Castillo de San Lorenzo.



17 Convento de la Compania de Jesus & Church

Built in 1607, this stone structure was destroyed by fire in 1671, during Henry Morgan's attack. It was built by the Jesuits, who were late comers to the city. It probably served has a school, since the Jesuits established the first primary and secondary schools in Panamá

18 Iglesia de la Concepcion

The Sisters of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception founded this convent in 1598, and it served as a girls school. First constructed of wood, it was later rebuilt of stone in 1690

19 Convento de la Concepcion

This was the convent that was next door the the church.




20 Monasterio de San Cristobal
Destroyed