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 Panama's
unique colonial heritage can appreciated at two fascinating sites, known
as Old Panama and the Casco Viejo. Both sites are found within Panama
City and can be easily toured in a couple of hours. Visitors will gain
a deeper appreciation for Panamanian culture and history as they visit
these areas, which should be near the top of everyone's list of things
to see in Panama.
Old Panama
These colonial ruins, lovingly maintained by Panamanians, hark back
to a time when the Spaniards shipped gold from South America via a Pacific
route, transported it overland across Panama to the Caribbean and reloaded
it on ships bound for Spain. The city was founded in 1519 but sacked
by the pirate Henry Morgan in 1671and destroyed by fire when the governor
ordered the powder magazine burned. The city was moved a short distance
away to present-day Panama City. Old Panama is found just to the east
of the modern city center and consists of a large, wooded park with
the stately, stone ruins of once-elegant buildings. Especially impressive
are the massive bell tower of the cathedral and the Bishop's House.
After a tour of the ruins, visitors may wish to shop for native crafts
in a market alongside, or have a cold drink in a cafeteria that overlooks
the bay.
Casco Viejo
The oldest sector of modern Panama City, founded in 1673, is known as
the Casco Viejo. This beautiful little area has several attractions
that tourists shouldn't miss and can easily cover in a walking tour
of a few hours. A monument to the French entrepreneurs who began the
Panama Canal stands at the bayside end of the Casco Viejo and there
is an adjacent art museum in the converted strong house, known as Las
Bovedas, once used for storing gold. Not far away is the famed "flat
arch" which supposedly convinced engineers that Panama was a geologically
stable area for building the Canal. The beautiful gold-plated altar
of the San Jose Cathedral is another required stop. An excellent museum
dedicated to Panama's history as an Inter-Oceanic Route, is found in
front the Central Park. Exhibits trace Panama's importance as a shipping
route from pre-Hispanic times, to the colonial era, to the building
of a transcontinental railroad, to construction of the Panama Canal.
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