This, the capital city, that blends the past and modernism, is located on the Isthmus of Panama, right in the center of the country. Panama City is a destination divided into three distinct regions as a result of the historical growth in the area: Old Panama, Colonial Panama (Casco Viejo) and modern Panama.
A Walk in Panama City ...
Visiting this city is a trip back in time through three different areas. In Panama La Vieja you can find the Convento de San José and the slave market. The Old Town on the other hand, deserves a detailed walk because it is considered one of the most picturesque neighbourhoods in America. Modern Panama is ideal for a day of shopping.
This city founded in the sixteenth century was destroyed by the pirate Morgan in 1671, and was rebuilt in the area known today as Colonial Panama, 8 kilometres away from the original place, as a fortified city covered by a thick stone wall to protect it from future attacks.
Between alleys and colonial buildings, ruins and cobblestone streets, museums and ancient churches converge three construction styles: Spanish, French and Italian, resulting in a stunning architectural setting dominated by French and neoclassical style. In 1846, the discovery of gold in California stimulated the economic development of Panama, and resulted in the construction of the trans-isthmus railroad, which united the two oceans for the first time, and the beginning of the construction of the French canal. The city gradually changed its appearance, becoming a cosmopolitan city with a resemblance to the European eighteenth century.
Today, Panama City has a landscape full of hotels, casinos and a modern and efficient transport system. Through the sky line is easy to travel anywhere in the capital.