Panama still has monuments and ruins in different parts of the country that are evidence to the days of exploration,  colonization and plunder by the nation of Spain in Panama. There is no greater or obvious proof of this however, then what you'll find in "Old Panama" (Panama Viejo) in Panama City. Here we find remnants of convents and churches plus signs of 4 centuries past when Pedro Arias de Avila discovered Panama in 1519.

"Old Panama" is located at 20 kilometers east of the city of Panama, which in actuality is the home of approximately 11 thousand persons, who live a few minutes from the Visitor Center of the Ruins of Old Panama , located on the Via Cincuentenario road in the Panamanian capital. Here you will be enriched with the history of Panama.

About the ruins in Old Panama

The Church and Convent of the Merced of Old Panama , San Francisco and San Jose of Old Panama , the Convent of Nuns of Conception and Santo Domingo of Old Panama and the Church and Convent of the Company of Jesus of Old Panama are some of the ruins that all of the visitors observe in Old Panama .

If you are interested in knowing a little bit about the public institution buildings in the past such as the hospitals, we have in Old Panama the ruins of the Juan de Dios Hospital.  In the same way, in Old Panama we have the memories of the Houses of Terin constructed for Francisco Tarin, The West Houses at the extreme of the Plaza Mayor and the Royal Houses that were the center of Power of Old Panama , because the royal government offices were located there.  As well as the place for the sale of slaves in Old Panama was the House of the Genoese, property of the Genoese Merchants.

Huge homes called "Alarcon" houses are also located in Old Panama and at one time was where many of the elite resided. Other  key archeological sites  that you can find in Old Panama are: The Slaughterhouse Bridge, the Nativity Fort and the Bridge of the King.

In actuality, many of the establishments of Old Panama that were originally there such as the equestrian club, government offices and a bus terminal that operated on the outskirts of the historic area have been eliminated.

Since 1995, Old Panama has been administrated by the Old Panama Board which is a non-profit organization, created by the Kiwanis Club of Panama, the National Institute of Culture and the Panamanian Institute of Tourism.  In addition, since 2003, Old Panama has been considered by UNESCO and by the Panamanian Government as World Heritage through Law 91 of December 22^nd 1976.

If you are determined to know more information about Old Panama invest less than $6.00 per person at the Visitor Center for the Ruins of Old Panama, Monday thru Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Sundays  from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00.  Later, you will be able to purchase souvenirs for your family and friends at the Arts & Crafts Market of Old Panama, and finally go up to the scenic overlook of the tower of the Cathedral of Old Panama and admire the spectacular view of the city capital from this architectural work.