Capilla San Jose, Panama Province, Panama
4.5 (680 reviews) Spent < 1 hour Ranking #15 in Panama City Historic Sites • Religious Sites
Worth a short stop as part of a larger tour of the Casco Viejo
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.
Address
Avenida A & Calle 8, Panama City 0802 Panama
Mobile
Current local date and time now
Sunday, May 05, 2024, 0:32
User Ratings
4.5 based on (680 reviews)
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Reviews
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5Bruce A 5:00 PM Apr 16, 2022
Make sure to see the nativity scene too
If you only visit the interior of one (functional) church in Panama, it should be this one. Panamanians seem extremely proud of the gold altar that is the main attraction. But if you go to the gold altar and turn right, you'll find a side room that includes an enormous nativity scene. The actual birth of Jesus in a manger is just one small part of the nativity scene, which includes everything from the Annunciation to the Flight to Egypt. Entry is free. There were signs outside saying no shorts, but nobody was enforcing it: I saw plenty of people wearing shorts entering the church.
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4dragonphoe18 5:00 PM Mar 11, 2020
Look out for this in Casco Viejo
If you're in the Old City, you should look out for this church. Entry is free (leave a donation on your way out) and you can see the enormous ornate golden altar squeezed into the back of the church. It is quite a sight to see and interesting to read about the history and about the pirates! Good also to take a little break from the heat if it is very hot outside!
