A TRIP TO PANAMA CITY - CASCO VIEJO

We chose to stay 4 nights in Casco Viejo (aka San Felipe or Casco Antiguo) and absolutely loved it!  Casco Viejo is very small colonial area of Panama City that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  This area is fascinating and quickly growing and changing.  Many structures in Casco Viejo were built in the 1600's and 1700's.  During the 20th century, buildings fell into disrepair, and until recently, the majority were abandoned, unlivable, or being lived in by squatters.  Supposedly, up until 15 years ago, much of the Casco Viejo area was rundown, dangerous, and various gangs controlled the area.  During our trip we learned that within the past 10 to 15 years the Panamanian government has stepped in to help refurbish the area and help maintain its Spanish colonial charm with interesting French influence.  During this time, Casco Viejo has gone through a tremendous amount of restoration, and once decrepit buildings have been refurbished into beautiful structures maintaining their colonial charm, with new hotels, bars, cafes and restaurants cropping up each month.  Today, Casco Viejo is very unique.  While walking the small streets of Casco, one will find beautifully restored hotels and structures among ruins and unkept buildings right next to one another.  While many buildings still remain to be refurbished and some squatters still exist, the area (according to locals) is safe since the government has provided police security as part of its effort to ensure the restoration of this area.  We loved Casco's beautiful colonial buildings and "artsy" charm and look forward to seeing how it evolves during the next several months.

A view of Casco Viejo (aka Casco Antiguo or San Felipe)

The large Plaza Catedral sits in the middle of Casco Viejo.

Instead of staying in a hotel, we rented an apartment in the mustard colored building on the right hand side of this street.  The apartment was in a great location, walking distance to all of the great restaurants, cafes, and plazas of Casco Viejo.  

El Parque Bólivar

Casco Viejo is an eclectic artsy area with beautiful Spanish colonial architecture with a French influence.  

This is one of the many buildings in Casco Viejo that has not been refurbished.  As you can see, there are several police vehicles monitoring the area.

Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís was build in the 1680's and is one of the original structures in Casco Viejo.  It was destroyed by two different fires in 1737 and 1756.

Casco Viejo is now known for its fabulous restaurants and cafes.
Tántalo was one of our favorites, and the view of the city from their rooftop bar is spectacular.  Such a fun atmosphere!

Tántalo's atmosphere and decor is artsy and fun.  After being in Panama for 6 weeks and eating most of our meals at home and visiting an occasional restaurant, it was fun to splurge and have some fabulous gourmet food at some of Casco Viejos top restaurants!

Another view of Casco Viejo.  As you can see, the building on the left is in complete disrepair, while the others on the right have been beautifully restored.

More Casco Viejo buildings that have yet to be refurbished.

In Panama City it is not uncommon to see some of the Kuna Yala women from the San Blas Islands.  They wear brightly colored clothing, and their arms and legs are wrapped with colorful beads.  This women was in Plaza Catedral in Casco Viejo selling her handmade goods.

Many arts and crafts from all over Panama are sold in Casco Viejo.  This is one of Casco's indoor artisan markets.