Arco Chato (Santo Domingo ruins)
The ruins of a colonial convent and its famous flat arch, which played a part in the canal's history.
The roofless walls of the Convent of Santo Domingo are among the oldest ruins in Casco Viejo. The convent was known for its Arco Chato, a wide, almost flat brick arch that stood for centuries without support.
The arch's survival was cited as evidence that Panama was not prone to major earthquakes, one of the arguments used when the United States chose Panama over Nicaragua for the canal. The original arch collapsed in 2003 and has since been rebuilt.
