Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn
Panama City was a Colombian city back then  Panama exists as a country today because we Americans decided to make it one, thus ensuring we had control over the Panama Canal - something the Colombian government didn't agree to at the time. But Panama City was bigger than any Colombian city until the early 20th century; it was the principle embarkation point for all Incan treasure trains heading back to Spain via Nombre de Dios. |
yup
Panamá Viejo
Main article: Panamá Viejo
Panamá Viejo ("Old Panama")[22] is the name used for the architectural vestiges of the Monumental Historic Complex of the first Spanish city founded on the Pacific coast of the Americas by Pedro Arias de Avila on August 15, 1519. This city was the starting point for the expeditions that conquered the Inca Empire in Peru in 1532. It was a stopover point on one of the most important trade routes in the history of the American continent, leading to the famous fairs of Nombre de Dios and Portobelo, where most of the gold and silver that Spain took from the Americas passed through.[23]
The committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of cultural criteria (ii), (iv) and (vi), considering that Panama was the first European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas, in 1519, and the Historic District preserves intact a street pattern along with a substantial number of early domestic buildings, which are testimony to the nature of this early settlement.[23]
[edit]Casco Viejo or Casco Antiguo
Main article: Casco Viejo, Panama
Built and settled in 1671 after the destruction of Panama Viejo by the privateer Henry Morgan, the historic district of Panama City (known as Casco Viejo, Casco Antiguo, or San Felipe) was conceived as a walled city to protect its settlers against future pirate attacks. It was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003.[24]
Casco Antiguo displays a mix of architectural styles, which in turn reflect the cultural diversity of the country: Caribbean, Republican, art deco, French, and colonial architecture mix in a site comprising around 800 buildings. Most of Panama City's main monuments are located in Casco Antiguo, including the Salón Bolivar, the National Theater (founded in 1908), Las Bóvedas, and Plaza de Francia. There are also many Catholic buildings, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, the La Merced Church, and the St. Philip Neri Church. The distinctive golden altar at St. Joseph Church was one of the few items saved from Panama Viejo during the 1671 pirate siege. It was buried in mud during the siege and then secretly transported to its present location.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_city
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