Panama
ESMy trip
Low sun over a bay, with the coast and vegetation in silhouette.

Panama · Azuero Peninsula: Pedasí, Las Tablas & Chitré

History and museums

The 1821 independence, the figure of Belisario Porras and colonial churches. Most Ministry of Culture museums open Tuesday to Saturday and are free.

5 places

  1. 1

    CultureOpen

    Museum of Nationhood (La Villa de Los Santos)

    Calle José Vallarino, La Villa de Los Santos, next to San Atanasio church.62.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Last known: Jul 2024
    Booking
    Not stated

    The house where Panama's first cry of independence from Spain took place, on 10 November 1821. It has rooms on pre-Columbian art, conquest and independence, the council chamber, colonial religious art and a traditional kitchen.

    Source: Museo de la Nacionalidad de La Villa de Los Santos – SiCultura (Ministerio de Cultura) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Free admission (SiCultura).
    Hours
    Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday (SiCultura).

    Tip: In October 2024 the Ministry of Culture pointed to the deterioration of the museum and San Atanasio church and announced restoration plans. Confirm it is open before you go.

    Nearby: Corpus Christi in La Villa de Los Santos (0.1 km) · Herrera Museum Fabio Rodríguez Ríos (Chitré) (3.4 km) · Sarigua National Park (11.2 km)

    Sources: Museo de la Nacionalidad de La Villa de Los Santos – SiCultura (Ministerio de Cultura) · Recuperación del patrimonio histórico en La Villa de Los Santos y Chitré – SERTV

  2. 2

    CultureOpen

    Belisario Porras Museum

    Parque Porras, Las Tablas.38.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Last known: Jul 2024
    Booking
    Not stated

    Ministry of Culture museum devoted to Belisario Porras, three-time president of Panama between 1912 and 1924. It shows uniforms, photographs, documents and personal items. It opened in 1959.

    Source: Museo Belisario Porras – SiCultura (Ministerio de Cultura) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Free admission (SiCultura, Ministry of Culture).
    Hours
    Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; closed Mondays (SiCultura).

    Tip: Maximum capacity of 25 people at a time (SiCultura).

    Nearby: Las Tablas: Parque Porras and Santa Librada church (0.1 km) · Las Tablas Carnival (0.1 km) · National Pollera Festival (Las Tablas) (0.1 km)

    Sources: Museo Belisario Porras – SiCultura (Ministerio de Cultura)

  3. 3

    CultureOpen

    El Pausílipo House Museum

    Outskirts of Las Tablas, Boca de la Laja area (El Manantial).38.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    $0.75
    Hours
    Tue–Sat 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
    Booking
    Not stated

    Belisario Porras's former country house, a national monument and an example of 19th-century rural architecture. It reopened on 24 April 2026 after eight months of restoration.

    Source: La casa de Belisario Porras vuelve a la vida tras su restauración – La Prensa · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Nationals US$0.75; tourists US$1; children and students US$0.25; retirees US$0.50 (La Prensa, 2026).
    Hours
    Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., with guided visits (La Prensa, 2026).

    Nearby: National Mejorana Festival (Guararé) (5.3 km) · Las Tablas: Parque Porras and Santa Librada church (6 km) · Las Tablas Carnival (6 km)

    Sources: La casa de Belisario Porras vuelve a la vida tras su restauración – La Prensa · Así quedó la casa museo de Belisario Porras en Las Tablas tras su restauración – La Estrella de Panamá

  4. 4

    CultureOpen

    Herrera Museum Fabio Rodríguez Ríos (Chitré)

    Calle Manuel María Correa, central Chitré (Herrera).65.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Last known: Jul 2024
    Booking
    Not stated

    Two-storey museum on the history and culture of Herrera province, with an archaeology room, folk and historical pieces and gardens. It opened in 1984.

    Source: Museo de Herrera Fabio Rodríguez Ríos – SiCultura (Ministerio de Cultura) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Free admission (SiCultura).
    Hours
    Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday (SiCultura).

    Nearby: Museum of Nationhood (La Villa de Los Santos) (3.4 km) · Corpus Christi in La Villa de Los Santos (3.4 km) · Sarigua National Park (8 km)

    Sources: Museo de Herrera Fabio Rodríguez Ríos – SiCultura (Ministerio de Cultura)

  5. 5

    CultureOpen

    Santo Domingo de Guzmán colonial church (Parita)

    Colonial square of Parita, Herrera province.75.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not confirmed
    Booking
    Not stated

    Church from 1656, a national historic monument since 1926, with colonial altarpieces in carved and gilded wood, mostly 18th-century Baroque. The Tourism Authority restored its altarpieces in 2021.

    Source: Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (Parita) – Wikipedia · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    Visiting hours not confirmed by an official source at the time of review. It is an active church of the Chitré diocese.

    Tip: The 2021 restoration cost B/.137,500 and covered altarpieces, baptistery, pulpit, roof and lighting (TVN, 2021).

    Nearby: Sarigua National Park (4.3 km) · Herrera Museum Fabio Rodríguez Ríos (Chitré) (10.5 km) · Museum of Nationhood (La Villa de Los Santos) (13.2 km)

    Sources: Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (Parita) – Wikipedia · Inauguran obras restauradas de la iglesia colonial de Parita – TVN

More guides for this destination