Casco Viejo
Casco Antiguo
The colonial old town rebuilt in 1673. Its French and Spanish-style buildings on the peninsula have been restored into boutique hotels, restaurants and rooftop bars, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 1671, the pirate Henry Morgan burned the old city. In 1673, the Spanish rebuilt Panama City on this easily defended peninsula, and that is today's Casco Viejo, or Casco Antiguo. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, together with Panamá Viejo. A walking route takes in Plaza de la Independencia and the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Presidential Palace (Palacio de las Garzas, or Palace of the Herons, which you can admire from outside), the gold altar of the Church of San José, which legend says was painted black to hide it from Morgan and so survived, Plaza Francia and the monument to the canal's builders, the Paseo Esteban Huertas seawall (with views of the modern skyline and ships waiting in line to transit the canal), and the Palacio Bolívar. The Panama Canal Museum is also next to Plaza de la Independencia. In the evening, head to a rooftop bar for skyline views and try Panama Geisha coffee and ceviche. Restored and unrestored blocks sit side by side in the old town. At night, stick to the main streets, and areas with more police patrols are safer.
Opening hours
Open all day (museums and churches have their own hours)
Nearby sights
- Metropolitan Cathedral, Panama City
- Panama Canal Museum
- Museo de la Mola (MUMO)
- Church of San José (Golden Altar)
- Palacio de las Garzas
- Plaza de Francia & Las Bóvedas
- Cinta Costera
- Mercado de Mariscos