Restored: the Cathedral Tower at Old Panama

The board of directors of “Patronato Panama Viejo”at a press conference to announce completion of the restoration.

The tower of the Cathedral of Old Panama which as a symbol, is to Panama what Big Ben is to England, has been restored and will soon be open to the public.

Visitors will be able to climb up to a lookout on top of the tower and survey the broad Pacific as did the Spanish defenders of the city as they watched for enemy sails.

They were, of course, looking the wrong way. The English pirate Henry Morgan landed on the Caribbean Coast and attacked them from behind, which is why visitors gazing from the tower today will see only the ruins of the old city.

While the Spanish could not save the tower from Morgan, today´s Panamanians have saved it from the ravages of time.

Visitors can climb the stairs to the top.

The conservation organization "Patronato Panama Viejo" launched an appeal five years ago and finally, with the help of the Spanish Government and the Agency of International Cooperation, they have restored the tower.

They have installed steel and wood stairs up the three stories of the tower and reconstructed the floors, each of which will contain exhibits showing the history and other information of the city and its restoration and the religious architecture of the era.

Even the bells will chime again from the tower, not the originals but electronic ones at various hours of the day. It is also planned to re-construct the original spiral staircase to the first floor. The work cost $800,000.

The tower can accommodate up to 60 people. Entrance will cost $6 which includes a guided tour of the tower and the rest of the ruins. The museum at the site already attracts 2,500 to 3,000 visitors per month, without counting the thousands who just visit the ruins.

Entrance to the tower.

View of the modern city from the top of the tower.

The restored tower, scaffolding still in place, is presented to the public.