Panama City – Panama Viejo and Casco Antiguo
10/16/09
Since we were staying in El Cangrejo, one of the modern neighborhoods in skyscraper-packed Panama City, we decided to check out the older historic sectors of the city. We started at the ruins of Panama Viejo, the oldest Spanish settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas, built in 1519. The old Catedral Tower provided spectacular views of the Panama City bay and skyline.
Catedral Tower
Corredor Sur and Panama City
Skyscrapers galore in Panama City!
In the Catedral Tower
Casa Alarcon
Practicing to be a drum majorette
Convento de los Jesuitas
Corredor Sur and Panama Bay at low tide
Panama City
Panama Viejo was destroyed in 1617 in the wake of Sir Henry Morgan’s invasion and was never rebuilt. Instead, Panama City was transferred to a new site a few miles west, which is now known as Casco Antiguo or Casco Viejo. For the complete historic tour and a visit to the Panama Interoceanic Canal Museum, we hailed a cab and headed over to this colonial neighborhood. Casco Antiguo is thankfully undergoing a recent renovation which is helping preserve many of the fantastic architectural gems located here – this part of town is often compared to Cartagena or the French Quarter in New Orleans.
Casco Antiguo – one of the renovated buildings
Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion
Casco Antiguo – old and older
Friendly folks in Casco Antiguo
Instituto Nacional de Cultura/Teatro Anita Villalaz
Plaza de Francia
Panama City skyline from Paseo General Esteban Huertas
After our historic tour, we headed back to El Cangrejo where we enjoyed the modern conveniences of clothes shopping, billiards, snacks and even a little gambling at the Veneto Casino. Panama City combines old and new in a spectacular setting - we think it's awesome!
Since we were staying in El Cangrejo, one of the modern neighborhoods in skyscraper-packed Panama City, we decided to check out the older historic sectors of the city. We started at the ruins of Panama Viejo, the oldest Spanish settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas, built in 1519. The old Catedral Tower provided spectacular views of the Panama City bay and skyline.
Catedral Tower
Corredor Sur and Panama City
Skyscrapers galore in Panama City!
In the Catedral Tower
Casa Alarcon
Practicing to be a drum majorette
Convento de los Jesuitas
Corredor Sur and Panama Bay at low tide
Panama City
Panama Viejo was destroyed in 1617 in the wake of Sir Henry Morgan’s invasion and was never rebuilt. Instead, Panama City was transferred to a new site a few miles west, which is now known as Casco Antiguo or Casco Viejo. For the complete historic tour and a visit to the Panama Interoceanic Canal Museum, we hailed a cab and headed over to this colonial neighborhood. Casco Antiguo is thankfully undergoing a recent renovation which is helping preserve many of the fantastic architectural gems located here – this part of town is often compared to Cartagena or the French Quarter in New Orleans.
Casco Antiguo – one of the renovated buildings
Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion
Casco Antiguo – old and older
Friendly folks in Casco Antiguo
Instituto Nacional de Cultura/Teatro Anita Villalaz
Plaza de Francia
Panama City skyline from Paseo General Esteban Huertas
After our historic tour, we headed back to El Cangrejo where we enjoyed the modern conveniences of clothes shopping, billiards, snacks and even a little gambling at the Veneto Casino. Panama City combines old and new in a spectacular setting - we think it's awesome!
As I was reading up on your latest adventure I let out a loud "WOW" There is nothing left to say your photos are amazing.
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