Image of Santiago Apostol donated by the  Castilla del Oro Foundation in Natá.

When the Spanish reached to America, they honored Santiago Apostol, patron of Spain as a fervent gratitude for allowing them reach these lands which opened a new horizon and mark the curse of history, during the late fifteenth century.

More than 500 years after that historic feat led by Christopher Columbus, Castilla del Oro Foundation aims to continue and keep that link, now through its direct descendant the Duke of Carvajal Cristobal Colon who chairs the organization internationally.

“When the Spanish arrived to America the paid tribute to Santiago Apostol and what a coincidence, the first church in America is dedicated to Santiago Apostol but it took us some time to discover that” said the president of Castilla del Oro in Panama, Pascual Montanes.

He added that it was always known that this church, located in the community of Nata de los Caballeros was the first Catholic church build in America, “but we didn’t knew that it was dedicated to Santiago Apostol and when we discover it this made the project Castilla del Oro change in high, level of realism and pragmatism because what a pilgrim is looking for is to find people that can help him finish that path.”

Montanes reiterated that the foundation Castilla del Oro is not a project that seeks to attract tourist that would stay in big hotels or places with air conditioner, but what they want is people to get involved putting a small family business, a craft store, hostels and places to eat.

“We want to bring the best tourism in the world, we want to bring the people that feel more spirituality and religiosity, because the world needs it” he said.

After recounting the tradition that marks the visit of thousands of pilgrims that walk the route of Santiago of Compostela, the president of the foundation spoke about its intention to extend that pilgrimage to the central region of Panama, which was known as Castilla del Oro during the colony.

“I think many people in the world deserve a second chance. The experience of living the route of Santiago in Castilla del Oro can assure that would produce much spiritual good to a lot of people and much material goods for all of these people that are lucky to live in this promised land” Montanes said.

He noted that beyond the biodiversity of fauna and flora of Panama, what this foundation is trying to do is that the world learn how Panamanians are and fall in love with them as people of the promised land.

“We came looking for Castilla del Oro, and we found with the promised people, spiritual people” Montanes said.

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2. Remodeling of the San Francisco de la Montaña church tower in hands of Castilla del Oro Foundation
3. Municipalities in the interior are comfortable with the work of Castilla del Oro Foundation
4. Religious tourism produces wealth