Metropolitan Cathedral, Panama City

No trip to Panama City's Old Town is complete without visiting a beautiful historic edifice on Independence Square, that is Metropolitan Cathedral. The construction of the cathedral started in 1688 and took 108 years to complete, so the place was not officially consecrated until 1796. In the late 19th century, an earthquake destroyed pretty much all of the neighboring buildings, but the cathedral itself remarkably survived. Also surprisingly, for many years later it had remained deserted until a major renovation was undertaken in 2003.

The cathedral stands out for its contrasting color combination and the mix of architectural styles which in turn offers a glimpse of the fascinating history of the country. The stones used for the construction of the entrance wall were taken from the ruins of the city of Viejo. Grey in color, this wall is contrasted by the two tower-like structures on both sides of the entrance, which are white. These towers are layered with material called “mother of pearl”, brought from the Pearl Islands.

The cathedral is particularly spectacular at night when the whole structure is lit up.