Panamá Viejo

Panamá Viejo, also known as Panamá la Vieja, is the remaining part of the original Panama City, the former capital of Panama, which was destroyed in 1671 by the Welsh privateer Henry Morgan [1]. It is located in the suburbs of the current capital [1]. A settlement was founded on August 15, 1519 by Pedro Arias Dávila and another 100 inhabitants [1]. At the time, it was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Ocean, replacing the two cities of Santa María la Antigua del Darién and Acla [1]. Two years later, in 1521, the settlement was promoted to the status of city by a royal decree and was given a coat of arms by Charles V of Spain, forming a new cabildo [1]. Shortly after its creation, the city became a starting point for various expeditions in Peru and an important base where gold and silver were sent to Spain [1].