The Work Will Take More Than a Year to Restore the Church of La Villa in Three Stages.
Work has already begun with the dismantling of some parts of the tower and the removal of some of its bells.
The Diocese of Chitré reported that the temple of La Villa de Los Santos will not be demolished and that the work will initially focus on stabilizing and restoring its structure, which was damaged by the earthquake of October 9. The San Atanasio Church in La Villa de Los Santos, will be preserved and restored through a process divided into three stages, with an estimated duration of between 12 and 13 months, according to the Diocese of Chitré, an ecclesiastical jurisdiction that includes the provinces of Herrera and Los Santos.
According to the summary of the first meeting on the project, work has already begun with the dismantling of some parts of the tower and the removal of some of its bells. This initial phase aims to stabilize and restore the temple’s structure to prevent further damage and ensure the necessary conditions for the subsequent stages of intervention. The diocese explained that the priority is preserving the religious building, so the restoration of altars and damaged images will be addressed gradually. The process will require time and patience, while the technical work aimed at recovering one of the main historical and religious landmarks of La Villa de Los Santos progresses.
Regarding the recovery of the district’s historical heritage, the mayor of Los Santos, Raúl Montenegro, indicated that negotiations are ongoing with the Ministry of Culture to monitor the situation of the buildings affected by the earthquake, including the Municipal Palace and the Museum of Nationality. He specified that the restoration of these structures will depend on the corresponding assessments and the support that can be provided. Montenegro also stated that the city is working with the hope of rising again after the damage, with the commitment to rebuild the heritage of the historic city of Los Santos.
