Dating back to 1680, La Iglesia de la Merced sits in the heart of Casco Viejo, just a couple of blocks from Independence Square. Its weathered stone facade is made of stones recovered from the abandoned original old city of Panama, Panama Viejo, and is flanked by two gleaming white stucco bell towers, with bells chiming every 15 minutes.
The decorations inside are relatively restrained, with exposed wooden ceiling and a tastefully tiled floor. In alcoves around the edge are a number of statues dedicated to saints and religious figures, some more tastefully crafted than others but all of them well maintained.
Particularly striking is a statue of María de Cervelló (also known as María del Socorro or Mary or Cervellione) holding a ship in her hand. She was a 13th-century saint who was reputed to, after she had died, sail on the wings of the wind to rescue ships who were at risk of shipwreck.
Photos of La Iglesia de la Merced
Where to Next?
Travel Advice for Panama
You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Panama (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.
The British and Australian governments offer their own country-specific travel information. You can find the British Government's travel advice for Panama here and the Australian Government's here.
Health & Vaccinations
The CDC makes country-specific recommendations for vaccinations and health for travelers. You can find their latest information for Panama here.
Guidebooks for Panama
If you're looking for a guidebook to make the most of your visit, these are some of the most popular ones currently for Panama. Some are available in both paper and e-book formats.
- Fallon, Steve (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Fodor's Travel Guides (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Guides, Rough (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Guides, Insight (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Travel Insurance For Your Trip to Panama
I never travel without travel insurance, and I've run into several situations where I've had to make claims. I consider it essential.
But shopping for travel insurance can be a pain and confusing. Thankfully, there are some travel insurance comparison sites that show you a wide range of plans, make it easy to compare coverage, and can save you money at the same time. And the coverage can be much better tailored to your specific needs than the checkbox offering at travel booking sites or through your credit card.
These are some good places to shop for travel insurance for your next trip to Panama :
Hopefully, you won't need it, but if something goes wrong, you'll sure be glad you have it!