Chitré

Chitré
Township, District and City
County and city
City of Chitre
Chitré
Coordinates: 7°58′N 80°26′W / 7.967°N 80.433°W / 7.967; -80.433
Country Panama
ProvinceHerrera Province
Founded1848
Government
  MayorJuan Carlos Huerta Solís
Area
  Land12.4 km2 (4.8 sq mi)
Elevation
24 m (79 ft)
Population
 (2024)
  Total
61,000 Metropolitan Area 100,000
  Density735.5/km2 (1,905/sq mi)
 Population density calculated based on land area.
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
ClimateAw
Websitechitre.municipios.gob.pa

Chitré is the capital of the Panamanian province of Herrera. Located in the northeast of the Azuero Peninsula, the district of Chitré has a population of 60,500 inhabitants. At present, approximately 100,000 inhabitants live in the metropolitan area of the city of Chitre, including the small towns of La Villa de Los Santos, Pesé, Parita and other towns. This city is the main commercial hub of the Azuero region and one of the most important cities in the country.

It is known as "The city that grows alone" and "The city where no one is a stranger". The district of the same name is divided into five townships: San Juan Bautista, Llano Bonito, Monagrillo, La Arena and Chitré (main township). Chitré is connected to the Pan-American Highway in the town of Divisa by Avenida Nacional, the main communication axis of the province of Herrera and Los Santos. It preserves a historic center composed of old houses, churches, squares, avenues and parks, along with an important museum heritage. Among the cultural events that are celebrated are the Holy Week of Chitré, the festivities of the patron saint, San Juan Bautista, the Carnival and its founding party. The city of Chitré connects the Azuero region by air with Panama City with direct flights from Alonso Valderrama Airport. This small city connects with its land transport terminal to all the towns in the Azuero region as well as to the capital of the country and nearby cities. As the main city of the Azuero Peninsula, it has the main banking center of the central provinces, restaurants, fast food franchises, car sales companies, supermarkets, hotels, cinemas and shopping centers.

The most important sports stadiums in this city are the Rico Cedeño Stadium, home of Herrerano baseball in the youth and senior championships of Panamanian baseball with a capacity of 5,600 people, and the Los Milagros Soccer Stadium, home of Herrera FC in the first division of the Panamanian soccer league, with a capacity of 1000 fans.

Among its most important infrastructure works are:

  • Azuero Convention Center, the largest in the central provinces.
  • The road interchange (Bridge, Roundabout and Tunnel) between Carmelo Spadafora and Arnulfo Escalona Avenues.
  • The Bike Path to El Agallito Beach Internal Beltway of the City of Chitre Azuero Convention Center Azuero Convention Center Gustavo Nelson Collado Hospital Specialized Clinic of Azuero.