Panama is located between the countries of Costa Rica and Columbia. Its capital city is found in the center of the country along the pacific entrance of the canal of the same name. It has a considerably impressive communications system, and relies heavily on the internet. Panama City is a major hub of international banking and commerce to this very day and has been classified as a “Gamma World City”.

With a skyline of dense skyscrapers and enveloped by rain forest, the capital is a thing of beauty. But no visit to this land is complete without a stop at Panama La Viejo. This is a historical landmark that can be reached in less than half an hour by care. Here, you can see the ruins of the original trade city.

Six years after the discovery of the South sea, governor and Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias de Avila chose to found his capital city here on August 15th, 1519. This city would be the first European settlement in the Americas. Spanish exploration and their devastation of the Incan empire started from here.

Not longer after it was founded, the town blossomed due to being a key stopover for an important trade route. Mines in Peru provided a great deal of silver and gold, and it would pass through the town before being shipped to Spain. The prosperity of the trade route brought about the fairs of Nombre de Dios and Portebelo which made it the most important route in all the Americas.

The city was plagued by bad luck, though. Several fires had broken out, doing a lot of harm to the city. But the final blow was caused by an attack. Sir Henry Morgan and a large band of pirates sacked the city and destroyed much of it. This prompted the reestablishment of Panama roughly 8 miles away on a small peninsula. The ruins were left untouched until 1971, when it was declared Historical Monumental Complex. It’s now a tourist attraction.

Some of the buildings survived the attack. Aside from the remains of a few houses, shops, and a view of the Bay of Panama, a few key structures still stand. The Royal Houses, which was home to those in power, still stands. The Houses not only contained homes, but also had an office of the treasurer, a prison, and a custom. In addition, remains of the San Juan de Dios Hospital and the Bishop’s House still stand here.

Of particular interest is the Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion Cathedral. The structure was completed in the early 1600′s and has the shape of a cross. A large bell tower was constructed at the rear of the Cathedral and is believed to have served also as a watchtower.

In recent years, restoration work has been done on the ruins. One of these projects involved providing better access to the landmark. And, a visitor’s center has also been constructed, along with a museum, market, and a restaurant. The tourist attraction is open every day and has an inexpensive admission fee.

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