The Holy Church Cathedral Metropolitan Basilica Santa María de la Antigua de Panama was consecrated in 1796, though the construction work lasted 108 years and started in 1688. It has the category of being Minor Basilica, which means that it forms part of the churches of Rome. Declared as historical national monument in 1941, it forms part of the city centre of Panama, which holds the title of Heritage Site and World Heritage Site. In end of January 2019, coinciding with the World Youth Day, Pope Francisco will inaugurate the restored Cathedral.
In the year 2016 the work began for the complete restoration of the Santa Iglesia Catedral Basilica Metropolitana de Santa Maria de la Antigua in Panama, and now it is in the phase of installation of stone. The supply of the material started in November,2017. It is expected the work will finalise end of 2018.
For the restoration of the Cathedral around 2600 sqm of natural stone will be used, all from Spain: Blanco Macael, Rojo Alicante, Negro Marquina and Piedra Almorqui.
In the flooring of the interior of the Basilica Blanco Macael, Rojo Alicante and Negro Marquina will be installed in the polished finish in format 50 x 50 x 3 cm. For exterior, Piedra Almorqui in bush hammered finish in several formats (60x40x3 cm, 40x40x3cm and 40x30x3 cm) wil be used. Also special pieces, done in Rojo Alicante and Blanco Macael will be installed, in the staircases that lead up to the main altar; pieces of different lengths(120,100 and 70 cm) with rounded edges and 6 cm thickness.
The company supplying all the stone that will be used in the restoration of the Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Santa María de la Antigua de is Proyectos Capitel España,S.L., in Novelda( Alicante, Spain) that will do it to the company Stone and Equipment based in Panama and present in other countries in the Caribbean such as Dominican Republic, Colombia and Mexico.
TECHNICAL DATA
- Project Director: Juan Carlos Martín
- Architect: Domingo Varela R. Arquitecto Restaurador
- Contractor: Construcciones Zubillaga S.A y Ortiz Construcciones y Proyectos S.A. both members of Consorcio de la Antigua (Panamá)
- Stone supplier: Proyectos Capitel España, S.L.
