During a trip to Panama City you definitely should not miss the old town! The charming old houses line the small streets and instantly transport you to another era. Furthermore, the old town is home to an architectural gem that friends of old art of building should definitely visit: The old convent of Santo Domingo and the Arco Chato.
History of Arco Chato
The history of the Santo Domingo Convent begins when Friar Domingo Pérez, who arrived in 1571 with three other members of the religious order to found their convent. After pirate attacks in 1671, the city of Panama Viejo was completely burned down. The new governor, Antonio Fernández de Córdoba y Mendoza decided to move the city of Panama to what is known today as Casco Viejo (“Old Quarter”).
The very shallow arch is an architectural peculiarity. It once served as the supporting structure for the gallery of the Church of Santo Domingo, which was destroyed by the fire of 1737. Small bricks were used in its construction. The arch has three vertices and measures 15 meters in length and 10.5 meters in height. Like many buildings in the old town, the church walls were built of lime and stone. The roof, galleries, and cloister were made of wood. The church originally had a single nave with eight side chapels.
It is remarkable that no metal was used for the supporting structure of the flat arch, which was even said to have served testing Panama’s low seismic activity during the canal negotiations. The fact that the arch defied the laws of gravity for over 300 years is considered a miracle. That’s why several legends have been woven over the years concerning its construction. According to one of the legends, a Dominican friar built the arch and, after failing twice to raise it, he prayed beneath it so that it wouldn’t collapse a third time. Maybe the arch was supported by divine benevolence.
Arco Chato, which can be translated to “Flat Arch” is the most well-known and visited part of the Santo Domingo Convent. And indeed, the very shallow arch is an architectural peculiarity. It once served as the supporting structure for the gallery of the Church of Santo Domingo, which was destroyed by the fire of 1737. Small bricks were used in its construction. The arch has three vertices and measures 15 meters in length and 10.5 meters in height. Like many buildings in the old town, the church walls were built of lime and stone. The roof, galleries, and cloister were made of wood. The church originally had a single nave with eight side chapels.
If you are in Panama-City, then don’t miss to visit the Arco Chato. 🙂
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