The historic town of La Villa de los Santos, capital of the Los Santos district, sits across the La Villa river from Chitrés. Its colonial plaza and Church of San Atanasio are the most historically significant in the province — the church dates from the 18th century and contains notable baroque altars. The town's museum, the Museo de la Nacionalidad, is housed in the building where the 1821 independence declaration was signed.
The town is quieter and more traditional in character than Chitrés across the river, and the combination of the two makes a reasonable stop if you are passing through the Azuero. The Chitrés airport nearby (served by domestic flights from Panama City) makes this the easiest part of Los Santos to reach by air.