Panama Cities

Panama’s Old District, known in Spanish as “El Casco Viejo” is a city within Panama City.  It was built under stressful circumstances, since its construction was a consequence of the destruction of Old Panama (destroyed in 1671) by the famous British pirate, Henry Morgan.
Old Panama lasted approximately 150 years.  It was founded in 1519, and it was the first European city in the Pacific side of the American continent.  Houses were made of wood, with the main cathedral and other important buildings made of stone.  All the wooden houses were destroyed in the fire during Morgan’s taking of the city, but some of the original stone structures still can perfectly be seen today, when visitors take a Panama City tour.
After Old Panama’s destruction, it took a couple of years, until 1673 to build a new city, which is currently known as  El Casco Viejo; but this one was built on the other side of Panama’s bay, surrounded by walls, with the intention of protecting the city against attacks, that history shows never occurred again.
The second Panama City was well built and organized, but there was a small problem:  the space between the walls surrounding it for protection, in time became too small for the growing city, and people started moving out of the walls.
The first ones moving out were the ones with enough money to build a new house in the empty territory outside, leaving behind the less privileged people.  When time passed, the ones left behind did not take care of the buildings and the Casco Viejo turned into a deteriorated place.
The ones that moved out did not have a plan to build an organized city, so current Panama City grew unorganized, extending across the shore, edging Panama’s bay, without proper planning, until becoming the Panama City that we know today.
The government has been trying to enhance the current city, improving public transportation, building highways, and creating green spaces.  Also, the Casco Viejo is under a process, where the original architecture (colonial type) is being restored.
If you plan to take a Panama tour, ask your guides about the 3 cities; you will be able to see them all while traveling through history!