Panamá Viejo is the original Panama City, founded in 1519 and destroyed in 1671 during an attack led by Henry Morgan. Once a thriving colonial center, the site now consists of stone ruins, foundations, and the iconic cathedral tower—distinct from Casco Viejo, which was built afterward.

Fire, piracy, and abandonment left their marks, and time has reduced the city to essentials: arches, corridors, and open spaces where nature presses back in. Walking among the ruins, history feels exposed and unresolved, standing in stark contrast to the modern city nearby and reminding us that even centers of power are temporary.