Church of the Mercy — Attraction in San Felipe

Iglesia de la Merced Panama City, Panama

This church was transported brick by brick from the ruins of a 16th-century city into Panama City's current historic district.

THIS STUCCO AND STONE EXTERIOR feels visually out of place with its colonial surroundings in Panama City’s historic Casco Viejo neighborhood.

The reason for this is that the church is actually from the much older city of Panama Viejo, and was transported from its ruins.

Located 12 kilometers away from Panama’s historic city center, Panama Viejo is the oldest city established by European settlers in North America, dating back to 1519.

Panama Viejo was destroyed in 1671 during an attack led by the Welsh privateer Henry Morgan.

The population elected to move to the peninsula—the site of the present-day Casco Viejo—to be better fortified...

Inglesia La Merced is a Catholic temple located in the Old Town of Panama City also known as Casco Viejo. Initially it was in the first location of the city, today called Panama Viejo . After the attack of the pirates and consequent destruction of the city, the stone facade of this temple was transferred piece by piece to the new city around 1680. This church is magnificent and beautiful from top to bottom, inside and outside especially after a painstaking restore. You may even catch the occasional organist playing the organ which is sure to make your visit all much...

A baroque facade in a colonial surrounding. The church initially was built in the early 1600's in Panamà Viejo. After Morgan's attack it was moved to Casco Viejo. Personally, I like the interior very much, the relatively small nave and the aisles with several side altars evoke an intimate friendly atmosphere. As we were lucky enough to meet the Ohio-born harpist, we could witness a classical concerto with...