Iglesia de San José

Travelers who know the tale of the golden altar might expect this miraculously surviving relic to be housed in the grandest church in Panama—that, however, would be an ironic way to honor a treasure famously saved by its humble disguise. The Iglesia de San José is an exact replica of the church of the same name in Panamá Viejo, where a quick-thinking priest saved the genuine gold altar from pirate Henry Morgan by having it painted black—with mud, according to some reports. Fittingly, then, the Iglesia de San José has a modest, white and blue exterior and stained glass windows not apparent from the outside. It was constructed in 1671 through 1677 and remodeled during the 19th century, and travelers should make every effort to visit and take a look at the famed altar.