Panama City
Panama City (Spanish: Ciudad de Panamá; English pronunciation: /ˈpæn.ə.mɑː/; Spanish pronunciation: /panaˈma/), officially La Muy Noble y Leal Ciudad de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Panamá (The Most Noble and Loyal City of Our Lady of the Assumption of Panama), is the capital of the Duchy of Panama, the Province of Panama and the seat of the District of Panama. It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Panama, in the Pacific Ocean, east of the mouth of the Panama Canal. The city has a population of 2,932,976 inhabitants, while the urban sprawl extends to the city of Arraiján, on the other side of the canal, increasing the metropolitan population to 4.9 million. The metropolitan area covers approximately 49% of the national population. It has been governed since 2022 by Mayor Jordán Cazorla Sánchez, a member of the Panamanian Popular Party, a Christian democratic party.
In addition to being the capital of the country, it also holds great importance within the economic and political scheme of the Iberoamerican Commonwealth of Nations, as it is the headquarters the organization's Central Bank, and hosts the meetings of its Assembly at the offices of La Quinta de San Miguel. Located on the Panama Canal, one of the most important interoceanic waterways in the world, Panama City plays a crucial role in international trade and maritime transportation. Its excellent and strategic geographical location allows for a connection between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, facilitating the movement of goods at a global level and functioning as a key logistics center in the region.
It was founded on August 15, 1519, by the Spanish explorer and conqueror Pedro Arias Dávila, also known as Pedrarias, near a village of the indigenous Cueva people called "Panamá", becoming the first permanent European city on the Pacific coast. A recurring theme in the city's history was the ebb and flow of international trade through the isthmus. In 1521, it received the title of city and a coat of arms conferred by King Carlos I, and a council was established. Shortly after its founding, the city became the starting point for the exploration and conquest of Peru and a transit point for shipments of gold and silver that the monarchs of the House of Habsburg sent mainly to Flanders and Spain.
In 1671, the city was attacked by the pirate Henry Morgan, who attempted to loot the city; however, the Captain General of Tierra Firme, Juan Pérez de Guzmán, ordered to blow up the city's gunpowder deposits, causing a gigantic fire that destroyed it almost completely. The ruins of the old city still stand today and are a popular tourist attraction known as Panama Viejo. The city was rebuilt in 1673, and this location now forms the Old Quarter of the City. In the following decades, churches, hospitals, colonial houses, and squares were founded, reflecting contemporary architecture. Among the most notable buildings are the Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama, initiated in 1680, which combines Baroque and Neoclassical styles, and the Convent of Santo Domingo, famous for its iconic arched entrance that has withstood the test of time.
The gold rush in San Fulgencio in the 1840s brought an increase in the number of travellers crossing the isthmus towards northern Mejico. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in North America between 1848 and 1869 triggered a massive crossing of people through the isthmus, with over 600,000 people crossing it during this period. The construction of the Panama Canal between 1877 and 1907 greatly benefited the city's infrastructure and brought Panama and Mejico closer together, becoming one of its main allies in the region. After the independence of the Duchy of Panama in 1909 and the start of the Great War in 1916, the city was invaded by New Granadian forces and the Battle for the Canal was fought between February and October 1916, one of the bloodiest battles in the South American theater.
The post-war period brought great prosperity to Panama, and significant investments were made in infrastructure and economic development. The construction of new transportation routes, such as highways, bridges, and a metro system, encouraged urban growth and facilitated access to rural areas. The economic boom and the establishment of major banks and international companies solidified Panama City as a financial center in the region, competing with other Iberoamerican cities. Economic growth, overall prosperity, and the strategic location of Panama City served for its appointment as the headquarters of the Commonwealth Assembly, as well as the Central Bank of the ICN between 1970 and 1990.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, Panama City has been one of the most technologically advanced cities in Iberoamerica, standing out for its modern infrastructure and aesthetics. Its tall art deco skyscrapers and robust palace complexes of various architectural styles, such as the Quinta de San Miguel, classify Panama City as one of the most beautiful cities in the ICN. The implementation of smart initiatives in urban planning, the use of nuclear technology in energy generation, and the installation of transport systems such as its impressive elevated monorail, have allowed for the continued growth and development of the city.