Iglesia la Merced (Church of Merced), Panama City

If you are a history lover or want to visit some exquisite historic divine place, Church of Merced is the right place for you. The Church of Merced is a very old church which was constructed way back in 1680 and situated in Casco Antiguo, which is close to Cathedral Park within Panama City. The church is remarkable and its beautiful and intricate Baroque stonework was moved piece by piece from the original site in Panama Viejo which incidentally was the initial city center that the Spaniards had founded.

Although the chapel has undergone renovations recently, its ornate Baroque facade is a classic example of Baroque architecture that is only observed amongst the oldest buildings in Casco Viejo. The church’s Baroque façade squarely faces anyone walking from the North towards it on Avenida Central. Despite the small structure, the stones with which the church is built have an impressive and long history. The church is said to have a better exterior than the interior and that it is best photographed and viewed late in the afternoon. The afternoon sun’s rays provide a sparkling effect on the tiny chapels and the bell towers. This amazing sight makes every tourist’s trip worthwhile and mesmerizing.

A museum that houses documents of historic and religious value lies in close proximity to the church, which incidentally was the site for storing birth and baptism records in Panama City.