Exterior The
Palacio de las Garzas is a
colonial-style building. Following the restoration after the '''1951 coup d'état''', much of its original structure was recovered — including numerous bullet holes that remain visible as historical marks. The main façade faces
Avenida Eloy Alfaro, with a view of the
Bay of Panama. Below this façade, facilities have been built for the
Institutional Protection Service, including a small landing dock, a
helipad, and offices for various presidential departments.
Interior Main Courtyard At the palace's entrance lies a
courtyard with a
central fountain,
white marble floors, and
mother-of-pearl columns. This is where the
herons that give the palace its name reside. The birds, originally from the
Darién region, were a gift from Panamanian poet
Ricardo Miró to President
Belisario Porras. The herons have not always been the same individuals, but traditionally there is one heron for each province in the country (which increased to ten after the creation of
Panamá Oeste). When the palace hosts major events or summits with large delegations, the
gray herons are temporarily relocated to
Summit Municipal Park, located on the outskirts of
Panama City.
Andalusian Courtyard and Presidential Office On the
second floor, there is an
Andalusian-style courtyard with strong
colonial influence. Among its columns stand
five sculptures representing
Law, Justice, Labor, Perseverance, and
Duty. These allegorical figures were sculpted by Italian artist
Gaetano Olivari in
1915. This floor also houses the '''President's office
, which features two doors — one leading to the secretarial offices
, and another to a private library
. Inside the library, a private staircase
leads to the presidential residence
on the third floor. One of the most striking elements of the office is the frieze, which displays a gallery of medallions''' with the faces of former
Panamanian presidents. These medallions are placed throughout various parts of the building and include blank ones reserved for future leaders.
Yellow Room This is one of the most important rooms in the palace, as it hosts
official state ceremonies. The frieze of the room is decorated with
41 portraits of Panama's
early governors, members of the
Provisional Government Junta, and
Manuel Amador Guerrero, the country's first president. One of the main attractions of this room is a series of
eleven murals that graphically depict the
history of Panama. These murals begin with the
arrival of the Spanish, the
encounter of Vasco Núñez de Balboa with the South Sea, and Panama's
independence. Another notable mural is an
allegory of the Panamanian nation, represented as a woman dressed in a
pollera, receiving homage from ships of many nations. These works were painted by Panamanian artist
Roberto Lewis (1874–1949).
Tamarind Room Located next to the Yellow Room, this is the
presidential dining hall. It is decorated with large murals depicting the
harvest of tamarinds and
hunting scenes from
Taboga Island. These murals were commissioned in
1938 by President
Juan Demóstenes Arosemena and painted by
Roberto Lewis.
Cabinet Room Named
Belisario Porras in honor of the former president, this is one of the newest rooms in the palace. It serves as a
meeting space for Cabinet Ministers and special guests. The room is equipped with
cutting-edge multimedia technology,
acoustic insulation, and
security systems.
Presidential Residence The presidential residence is located on the
third floor of the palace, where the president and their family live. The area includes a
reception room,
five bedrooms (including the master suite), a
small kitchen,
private dressing room,
family living room with a
balcony overlooking the Bay of Panama, a
private study, and an
English-style dining room. One of the most treasured features is the
Moorish Room, designed in the style of the
Palace of Aranjuez and the
Alhambra in
Spain. == Véase también ==