David: Churches, History and Traditional Crafts
Accommodation in David
David offers several cultural points of interest: sacred architecture, regional history and traditional crafts. Catedral de San José and Iglesia Sagrada Familia offer different perspectives on the history of the churches; the private Museo del Barrio y Antigüedades La Casona broadens the view to include Chiriquí. Traditional crafts are also available at Mercado de San Mateo. When planning your stay, you can first decide which of these perspectives interests you most.
Der Gipfel des Volcán Barú im Volcán-Barú-Nationalpark.
Photo: Ariel Rodriguez-Vargas via Source, CC BY-SA 3.0
Churches with Different Traces of History
The freestanding tower of Catedral de San José is located in Barrio Bolívar in David; a cross crowns its peak. It is one of the city’s two historic monuments, designated by Law No. 37 of 22 May 1996. The designation applies to the tower, not to the cathedral as a whole. This brings together a specific architectural detail and a dated historical designation. The word “freestanding” draws attention to the tower as an independent architectural element.
Iglesia Sagrada Familia offers a different historical perspective; it is located in central David. Construction began in 1898 because a larger, more modern place of worship was needed. While a single tower and its designation as a monument are the focus at Catedral de San José, here the reason construction began is documented. This difference makes the two churches easy to distinguish as topics: one draws attention to a designated architectural feature, the other to the need that led to a new building.
A Museum with a Regional Perspective
The private Museo del Barrio y Antigüedades La Casona broadens the view from ecclesiastical architectural history to the cultural history of Chiriquí. It was founded on 17 May 2004 at the initiative of Dr. Mario José Molina Castillo to showcase aspects of the province’s history, education, art and culture. Its broad range of subjects sets it apart from individual buildings: regional culture is the focus of its founding purpose, whereas each church is associated with a specific building or the reason for its construction. This gives your cultural itinerary a regional-history focus alongside architecture.
Traditional Crafts and Practical Planning
At Mercado de San Mateo, a different aspect takes centre stage: traditional crafts are sold on Calle F Sur. This adds a specific market offering to your travel plans alongside churches and regional museum themes. If you want to make a visit to the market part of your itinerary, check the current opening hours in advance.
Residencia de Obaldía is home to Museo Histórico y de Arte José De Obaldía. The museum is currently closed for restoration work, so do not plan on visiting it as an open museum at this time.
A Suitable Base for Your Stay
If cultural discoveries in David are to shape your stay, looking for a holiday apartment in David is a natural choice. First consider whether church architecture, the history of Chiriquí or traditional crafts is most important to you.
For the broader travel overview: David.
