Archaeological Site of Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá World Heritage Site

Official name

Archaeological Site of Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá | UNESCO

Country

Panama | Map

Continent

North America

Location

Panama’ Province, Panama’ District
8.9511° Lat, -79.5405° Lon | Map

Code

790

Time Zone

America/Panama (EST, -0500)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 1997. Founded in 1519 by the conquistador Pedrarías Dávila, Panamá Viejo is the oldest European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas. It was laid out on a rectilinear grid and marks the transference from Europe of the idea of a planned town. Abandoned in the mid-17th century, it was replaced by a ‘new town’ (the ‘Historic District’), which has also preserved its original street plan, its architecture and an unusual mixture of Spanish, French and early American styles. The Salón Bolívar was the venue for the unsuccessful attempt made by El Libertador in 1826 to establish a multinational continental congress.