The old city of Panamá was destroyed and sacked by pirates and it was rebuilt where today we find Casco Viejo. The ruins of the old city can still be seen and are a reminder of the pirate times.
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| Ruins of the Old Cathedral in Panamá Viejo |
Founded on August 15, 1519, by Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias de Ávila, the city of Panamá was the first European settlement along the Pacific. For 150 years it flourished as Spain exported Peruvian gold and silver to Europe via Panamá. In 1671, Captain Henry Morgan sacked the city and it was relocated to the present-day Casco Viejo. Today, much of Panamá Viejo lies buried under a poor residential neighborhood, though the ruins are a must-see.
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| Ruins of the Old Cathedral in Panamá Viejo |
The Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Cathedral of Our Lady of Asunción), built between 1619 and 1626, is the best-preserved building of the ruins. In traditional fashion, it was designed so that its two side chapels gave the cathedral a cross-like shape as viewed from the heavens. The bell tower was at the back of the church and may have served double duty as a watchtower for the Casas Reales. The main facade, which faced the Plaza Mayor (Grand Plaza), is gone – only the walls remain. - in: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/panama/panama-city/sights/historic/panama-viejo
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| San Felipe Neighbourhood |
Casco Viejo (Spanish for Old Quarter), also known as Casco Antiguo or San Felipe, is the historic district of Panama City. Completed and settled in 1673, it was built following the near-total destruction of the original Panamá city, Panamá Viejo in 1671, when the latter was attacked by pirates. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1997. - in: wikipedia
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| Panamá Catheral |
The magnificent Catedral de Panamá, one of the largest in Central America, was completed in 1796 and practically abandoned until a major renovation in 2003. Today it stands over Plaza Catedral (Plaza de la Independencia) and is one of the main points of interest in Casco Viejo. The two towers on either side of the main entrance are encrusted with mother of pearl from the Pearl Islands and offer an interesting architectural contrast to the immense stone entrance wall and wooden doors. The interior is vast but modestly adorned apart from the impressive marble alter. - in: http://cascoviejo.com/catedral-metropolitana/
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