Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama City

The Cathedral Basilica of Santa María la Antigua[1] (Spanish: Catedral Basílica Santa María la Antigua de Panamá) is a Catholic church located in the old town of Panama City in Panama.[2][3] It was consecrated in 1796, although construction work began in 1688, 108 years earlier. The cathedral is the episcopal see of the Archdiocese of Panama.

Cathedral Basilica of Santa María la Antigua
Primate Cathedral Basilica Santa María la Antigua
Catedral Primada Basílica Santa María la Antigua de Panamá
Facade of the Cathedral seen from the “Plaza de la Independencia” (Independence Square).
Location	Casco Antiguo, Panama City
Country	Panama
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Consecrated	1796
Cult(s) present	Catholic church
Architecture
Heritage designation	WHS
Years built	1688-1796
Groundbreaking	1688
Administration
Archdiocese	Archdiocese of Panama

History

Another view of the cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama is heir to the Cathedral erected by Pope Adrian VI in the great house of the Cacique Cémaco, when the Spaniards faced and offered found a population dedicated to Santa María la Antigua in 1510. In 1513 dictates the bula why Antigua is raised to the rank of dioceses and church to the rank of Cathedral, its first bishop was Fray Juan de Quevedo.

After the fire caused to escape the pirate Henry Morgan in 1671,[4] the city was transferred to the current Casco Antiguo (Old Town) of the city of Panama in 1673 and with this move the adjournment of a new cathedral, whose construction takes 108 years. (1688-1796)

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Panama
• St. Mary Cathedral (disambiguation)

References

1. Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary, Panamá
2. Perilla, Jisel (2008-12-11). Frommer's Panama. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780470451861.
3. Architectural Record. McGraw-Hill. 1916-01-01.
4. Leonard, Thomas M. (2014-11-18). Historical Dictionary of Panama. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780810878358.