Panama Viejo

Panama Viejo is the remaining part of the old Panama City and former capital of the country. It is located in the suburbs of the modern city. Together with the historical district of Panama, it forms a World Heritage Site.

The city was founded 15 August 1519 by Peter Arias and other 100 inhabitants; at the time, it was the first permanent settlement in the Pacific Ocean, substituting the two cities of Santa María la Antiga del Darién and Acla. Two years later, in 1521, the city 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. Shortly after its creation the city became a starting point for various expeditions in Peru and an important base where gold and silver was sent to Spain.

In 1539 and 1563, the city suffered some fires which destroyed parts of it but they did not harm the city's development. In 1610, the city reached a population count of 5000 people, with 500 houses and some convents and chapels, a hospital and a cathedral.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the city was attacked several times by pirates and indigenous people from Darién. On 2 May, 1620, an earthquake damaged many buildings in the city. On 21 February, 1644, the Great Fire destroyed 83 religious buildings, including the cathedral. At this time, there were 8000 people living in the city.

In 1670, the city counted 10,000 inhabitants. On 28 January, 1671, The English pirate Henry Morgan attacked the city with 1400 men marching from the Caribbean coast across the jungle. Morgan's force defeated the city's militia then procceed to sack Panama. Either Morgan and his army started a fire that burned the city or the Captain General Don Juan Pérez de Guzmán ordered the gunpowder magazines exploded. Either way, the resulting fire destroyed the city. Morgan's attack caused the loss of thousands of lives and Panama had to be rebuilt a few kilometres to the west on a new site (the current one). Instead of being punished for the atrocity, Morgan was knighted in 1674 and made Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica by King Charles II of England.

External links

* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/790 UNESCO description list]