iolanda andrade: The 7 day circuit in Panam - Day 3 (afternoon) - Portobelo - The ruins of San Jeronimo and San Lorenzo forts; the exterior of the Aduana building; the Casa Congo restaurant and Art gallery and the Church of San Felipe

The moment we reached Portobelo I felt "at home", as I always do whenever I travel to formerly colonised villages. Located on the Northern part of the Isthmus of Panama this small fishing village said to have been colonised by the Spanish in 1597 and been an important silver exporting port and one the main ports on the route of the Spanish fleets from the 16th to the 18 th centuries had a charm of its own.

We visited the ruins of the Spanish defensive fortifications of Fort San Lorenzo and San Jeronimo, now in ruins, together with its still glamorous Aduana building.

We had lunch at a particularly charming restaurant which houses a galery of Congo Art displaying the cultural groups of Afro Caribbean and indigenous cultures that played an important role in the area. I soon identified the Angolan Ginga queen, as I toured the gallery.

The final part of our visit included the Iglesia de San Felipe known for the statue of the Black Christ carved in "cocobolo wood", whose origins are unknown. It is life-size and rather impressive, particularly when it comes to his piercing eyes. Several miracles are said to have been attributed to this "Cristo Negro", who is also known as the patron Saint of criminals, who often join the annual pilgrimage in His honour, to atone for their crimes.