Casco Viejo
Ja havia escrito sobre o "Casco Viejo" que na realidade era a cidade antiga (hoje conhecida como Panama Viejo) que foi transladada da sua localizacao antiga apos o ataque de Henry Morgan e seus comandadosem 1671 - que resultou na
destruicao da cidade. A Coroa Espanhola entao aprovou o translado da Cidade para uma peninsula mais protegida, situada a aproximadamente 8 quilometros do assentamento original. Tal peninsula estava rodeada de recifes, os quais se tornavam expostos a medida
que a mare baixava, o que dificultava a aproximacao de navios inimigos. A cerimonia de fundacao da nova cidadese deu em 21 de janeiro de 1673 - dois anos apos o ataque pirata de 1671.
Inicialmente se constituia de 300 "vivendas" que pertenciam as familias
abastadas da epoca e rodeada de grossas muralhas que a separavam do resto da populacao e tinham tambem proposito militar. O ponto central era a Plaza Mayor em frente a qual se localiza a Catedral metropolitana. As ruas sao estreitas, os predios antigos em
estilos neo-classico, barroco, neo-renascentista, colonial espanhol, utilizacao de figuras geometricas, iconografia masonica...alguns ainda permanecem como moradias, outros transformados em lojas, restaurantes, galerias de arte, muitos ja restaurados a sua
forma original (com incentivo governamental) e outros em fase de restauracao, mas muitos ainda por serem reformados.
No “Casco Viejo”, que ainda esta sendo restaurado com auxilio governamental, podem ser visitados predios historicos
como : Catedral Metropolitana (sede da arquidiocese do Panama), Iglesia Nossa Senora de La Merced (museu eclesiastico da cidade) onde figura uma estatua da Virgen de La Merced presenteada por Carlos V e trazida da Espanha em 1722, Iglesia San Jose o Altar
de Oro, Museo del Canal Interoceanico(revive as origens da construcao do Canal do Panama), Convento de Santo Domingo o Arco Chato (o arco chato original foi erguido pelos frades dominicanos em 1678), Las Bovedas (arcos apoiados sobre colunas) en Plaza
de Francia, Teatro Nacional (projetado pelo arquiteto italiano Genaro Ruggieri), Palacio Bolivar ( no meio da praca se ergue um monumento em honra ao libertador Simon Bolivar),Palacio de las Garzas Presidencia de la Republica(escritorios governamentais e residencia
presidencial), Mercado del Marisco.
"Casco Viejo"
I had written about Casco Viejo before, which in fact is the Old City (presently known as "Panama Viejo" ) that was transferred from its original site after the pirate attack by Henry Morgan and
his crewmen - after which the town was completely destroyed. The Spanish Crown then approved the transfer of the city to a small, but more protected, peninsula situated about 8 km from the original settlement. This peninsula was surrounded by reefs that were
exposed when the tide was low, which would make it difficult the approach of enemy ships. The founding ceremony of the new city was held on January 21st, 1673 - two years after the pirate attack of 1761.
Initially consisted of about 300 "vivendas"(houses)
belonging to wealthy families of the time and was surrounded by thick walls that excluded the rest of the population and had also a military purpose.The center of this new city was occupied by the Plaza Mayor, in front of which stands the Metropolitan Cathedral.
The streets are narrow, the old buildings bear different types of architecture styles, such as: neo-classical,baroque,spanish colonial, neo-renaissance, caribbean architecture, iconic art deco, use of masonic iconography...some are still regular houses, others
were turned into shops, restaurants, art galleries, many have already been restored to its original status, some being restored but many others still to be worked on.
At Casco Viejo, which is still being remodeled with government aid, one can visit
historic buildings as: Catedral Metropolitana (headquarters of the Archdiocese of Panama); Iglesia Nossa Senhora de La Merced(ecclesiastic museum of the City where there is an image of the Virgen de la Merced gifted by Carlos 5th and brought
from Spain in 1722; Iglesia San Jose o Altar de Oro; Museo del Canal Intraoceanico (relives the origins of the construction of the Canal of Panama); Convent of Santo Domingo or Arco Chato( the original arch was built by the Dominican friars in 1678);
Las Bovedas (arches supported by columns) in the Plaza de Francia; Teatro Nacional (designed by Italian architect Genaro Ruggery); Palacio Bolivar (in the middle of the square there is a monument in honor of the libertador Simon Bolivar; Palacio de las Garcas
(is the governmental office and house of the President); Mercado del Marisco.