From its strategic position at the crossroads of the North and South American continents, Panama has attracted interest throughout history. Tales of ancient cities lost to the thick tangle of rain forest covering much of its 47,000 square miles thrive among indigenous communities, such as the Kuna. But the majority of Panama’s famous buildings still standing date from the period under Spanish control. They are mostly in the capital, Panama City, where the Casco Viejo sits like a pearl at the feet of the lively modern metropolis. The Spanish dreamed of building a canal across Panama’s narrow isthmus as early as the 16th century, yet it wasn’t until the early 20th century that work on the Panama Canal began, bringing such noteworthy constructions as the Bridge of the Americas and the locks of Miraflores.

Panama Viejo Ruins

Founded in 1519 by Spanish conquistadors, Panama Viejo is the site of the first European town settlement on the American mainland, a fact acknowledged by the United Nations when it was awarded World Heritage Site status in 1997. Pirates ransacked the old city in the 17th century, leading to its eventual abandonment. But on the old stone streets, pockmarked by weeds, lie the ruins of many public and religious buildings. Among the most famous and best-preserved sites are the Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion on Plaza Mayor and Puente del Rey, one of the oldest bridges in the Americas.

Casco Antiguo Panama City

After the Welsh buccaneer Henry Morgan looted Panama Viejo in 1671, a new city was born about five miles southwest of the original settlement. With better fortifications and protected from pirates by natural reefs, it has survived to become the foundation of modern-day Panama City and was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2003. Walk through the narrow cobblestone streets and you’ll find many colorful colonial buildings, including the President’s Palace; the Iglesia de la Merced, complete with a Baroque facade and twin white bell towers; and the Iglesia de San Jose. An exact replica of an original from Panama Viejo, the San Jose church is most famous for its carved mahogany altar covered in gold leaf.


Located on the Caribbean coast, directly north of Panama City, Portobelo was once a centerpiece for transatlantic trade between Latin America and Spain. At its heart was the Real Aduana, or Royal Customs House, a fine example of colonial architecture with carved coral columns. The treasures housed within made it subject to frequent pirate attacks, but it was an earthquake in 1882 that finally left it in ruins until it was rebuilt in 1998. The most prominent town in the Colon province, Portobelo is notable for the remains of five 17th- and 18th-century fortifications that provide superb examples of Spanish military architecture. Among the long abandoned fortresses, rusty cannons still face forlornly out to the Caribbean.


Set on the Pacific Coast, about 160 miles southwest of Panama City, the town of Chitre is a good base for exploring the traditional villages of the Herrera Province. A busy commercial center, its landmark building is the 18th-century Catedral de San Juan Bautista, built in a colonial style with a soaring ceiling made entirely from polished mahogany wood. The exterior is wedding-cake white and unadorned, while the simple interior, illuminated by brilliant stained-glass windows, houses near life-size figures of saints on the walls. The cathedral was substantially rebuilt in 1988 and the original bell, cast in 1767, was removed for display at the nearby Museo de Herrera, housed in a colonial building.


About the Author


Photo Credits

  • Hemera Technologies/ Images
Suggest an Article Correction