Americas

[Visited: December 2024]

After a second visit of the Valle de Antón, we take a secondary road towards the west. It takes us through small villages, through a pleasant countryside of valleys and rolling hills. According to our information, the church we are heading to is closed today; when we ask people, we are told they don't know if we will be able to enter. We are on our way to what is thought to be the oldest church in the Americas that is still operational. We are enjoying the ride, and wonder if what we are doing is a good idea. Then again, it is a Sunday, and it seems strange that a church of this stature would be closed. So, we continue driving west, until we reach the Panamericana Highway which makes the last stretch much easier. When we drive through Natá, we notice the streets are empty, a typical Sunday afternoon. Our hopes sink further.
Then, as we reach the small Urrita Square, a whitewashed building appears on our right. There can be no mistake: this is the famous Basilica de Natá. And - the doors are open! We park right away, all excited, and hurry inside. There is just enough light coming from the outside to light up the altars on the walls, the famous carved pulpit, and the richly decorated main altar. While we walk through the aisle, the caretaker is busy closing the huge wooden shutters. With each window closing, the light becomes scarcer. It is as if he doesn't notice us, and doesn't care about our wish to see the intricately carved wooden statues of the altars, the painting on the wall, and the baroque altar. Or the columns, which are made of níspero, a tree found in Bocas del Toro. When there is only one door open, the man turns around and looks at us. It is clear: he wants to close.
We walk outside, and now take the time to have a closer look at the outside of the Basilica Menor Santiago Apostol. It has only one belltower, in which once upon a time four golden bells were hanging. Not surprisingly, these were all stolen, and replaced. Natá was founded by the Spanish in 1522, and named after the local Anata people. In the same year, this church was founded. While we appreciate this historical building, it seems strange that we are the only ones. We walk the small square, where we see several small statues. On the other side, three old men sit on a bench, chatting about their past lives. Shops are closed, and so are bars. Natá has a jewel in its hands, but it surely needs some polishing. Instead, the laid back town seems too modest to show its historic wealth.

Around the World in 80 Clicks

inspiring you to travel

Basilica Menor Santiago Apostol (Panama)

Basilica Menor Santiago Apostol > Panama > Americas

[Visited: December 2024]

Around the World in 80 Clicks