Things to see
The Panama Canal
On December 31, 1999, Panama assumed total responsibility for the administration, operation and maintenance of the Panama Canal. This momentous and historic event marked the culmination of a 20-year transition process that started in 1979, two years after the United States and Panama signed the 1977 Panama Canal Treaty. In conjunction, the Panama Canal Commission (PCC), the U.S. government agency that had previously administered and operated the Canal, was replaced by a new entity, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP),e established by the Panamanian government. [ more ]
Panama La Vieja
Panama La Vieja (Old Panama) was the first city on the Pacific Ocean to be founded by the Spanish. Fromm this city, in 1524, 1530 and 1531, Diego de Almagro and Francisco Pizarro departed to conquer the Inca Empire of South America. Ships carrying gold from South America traveled to Panama La Vieja. The gold was then transported by land to the Caribbean Coast and was reloaded on ships bound for Spain. The wealth that traveled through Panama La Vieja attracted pirates and looters. Panama La Vieja was ultimately sacked by the English pirate Henry Morgan in 1671 and the city was destroyed by fire. [ more ]
Casco Viejo
In 1673, two years after the destruction of Panama La Vieja, Casco Viejo was established by order of the governor Don Antonio Fernandez de Cordoba y Mendoza. From 1673 to 1910, the city operated in the neighborhood of San Felipe. The architectural style of this area was influenced by the Spanish, French and Italians. Today, numerous monuments, cathedrals and structures can be viewed and appreciated. [ more ]
Modern Panama City
Present day Panama City is situated between the two previous cities. As a sharp contrast to the old cities, Panama City is lined with towering skyscrapers, as well as beautiful, tree-lined neighborhoods. The city has grown into a bustling center of business, finance and commercial trade, and is set to become a center for travel and ecotourism. [ more ]
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