🏛️ Panamá Viejo Ruins
Panama
About This Sacred Site
Panamá Viejo is the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site of the original Panama City, the first European settlement established on the Pacific coast of the Americas in 1519. The ruins include the cathedral tower, churches, and convents that served the spiritual life of the colonial city before it was destroyed by the pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. The cathedral tower remains the most iconic symbol of Panama's colonial heritage.
Key Facts
- •Founded in 1519 by Pedro Arias Dávila as the first European city on the Pacific coast
- •Destroyed by the pirate Henry Morgan's raid in 1671
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003
- •The cathedral tower is the most recognizable historical monument in Panama
- •The ruins include multiple churches and convents from the colonial period
Location
Coordinates: 9.0067, -79.4831
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