Location: Panama City
Top Things to do in Panama City
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Things to do in Panama City, Panama Province: The Best Sacred & Religious Sites
A diverse multicultural city of almost 1.3 million, Panama City offers a lot more than an up-close view of the Canal. Shantytowns slink up alongside shiny high-rise condos. The Old City is an atmospheric labyrinth of churches, plazas and palaces. Fifteen miles from downtown Panama City, Soberania National Park is an excellent destination for hiking and birding. For a fascinating look at the canal, take a taxi or local bus to Miraflores Locks Visitor Center and look down on the traffic below.
Restaurants in Panama City
1. LDS Panama City Panama Temple
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
2. LifeBridge International Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By bekloppt - Panama City, Panama
I am extremely grateful for this English-speaking church and its wonderful people. Service is every sunday at 9:30 am, cinepolis at multiplaza.
3. Capilla San Jose
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 664 reviews
Built soon after the first Spanish settlement in the 16th century, this small church features the famous Golden Altar (Altar de Oro), which is made entirely of pure gold.
Reviewed By ebert2013
We enjoyed walking through the church in Old Town. The alter is amazing, covered in gold leaf. The only thing I found odd was that the “prayer candles” were electric! I guess it makes sense when you don’t have someone to monitor an open flame in an old wood church. It was a quiet, cool, contemplative place to visit.
4. Bahai Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 226 reviews
Reviewed By B3168GQrr
This Baha’i House of worship has a peaceful, tranquil and spiritual energy which allows all to meditate with their Creator. We found people of many faiths communing with the Lord in silent contemplation!
5. Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitan)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 168 reviews
Built between 1688 and 1796, this is a magnificent example of the religious colonial architecture of Panama.
Reviewed By Luciafernandez62
It took over a century to build this wonderful temple, from 1688 until 1796. It is located in front of the Plaza Mayor, also known as Plaza de la Independencia and Plaza Catedral. The church bears the title of Catedral Basilica Santa Maria La Antigua. The main altar is beautiful, built in one single block of Italian marble of Carrrara. The altarpiece behind it is colorful, with marbles brought in from many different places in the world, representing the warm welcome given in Panama to people from all over the world. The altar was blessed by Pope Francis on January 2019, and it contains several relics related to Panama: bones of Santa Rosa de Lima, a portion of the cassock of San Oscar Romero, and blood of San Juan Pablo II. Among the various religious figures that adorn the Cathedral are a statue of Santa María La Antigua, the patroness of Panama, with a flower in her hand and Baby Jesus in her arms.
6. Balboa Union Church
7. Catedral de San Lucas
8. Quan Am Nam Hai Monastery
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