Panama City Culture and Art Guide: Tracing History Through the Streets
Standing before the altar of the Golden Altar inside the Church of San José in Casco Viejo, I found myself tracing the intricate, baroque carvings of solid mahogany coated in gold leaf. According to local lore, when the privateer Henry Morgan attacked the original Panama settlement in 1671, quick-thinking priests painted this sacred treasure black to disguise its worth. Morgan spared the building, and the altar survived intact. That single survival story encapsulates what draws me to this coastal capital: layers of survival, architectural reinvention, and a deeply layered past waiting to be unpacked by travelers who look closer. Why Panama City Is ideal for Art and History Lovers # Panama City sits at the intersection of continents, oceans, and distinct historical epochs, making it an endlessly fascinating destination for anyone who values architecture and social history. You can wander from the stone ruins of Panamá Viejo—destroyed in the 17th century—to the French colonial facades and wrought-iron balconies of Casco Viejo, all within a short distance. The city’s museums, historic churches, and public plazas tell a complex story of indigenous roots, Spanish colonization, and the monumental engineering feat of the canal.