What is the history of the Panama City, Panama area of Marbella?
Lourdes Townshend
History, Panamá
Marbella is a small neighborhood in the city of Panamá. It´s an important area, though, because it is generally known as the banking area. The Marbella area of the city of Panamá is in the central part of the city of Panamá, and has many tall buildings, some of them with beautiful ocean views. You can access Marbella from the international airport via the "Corredor Sur" (an expressway) that goes...
History, Panamá
Marbella is a small neighborhood in the city of Panamá. It´s an important area, though, because it is generally known as the banking area. The Marbella area of the city of Panamá is in the central part of the city of Panamá, and has many tall buildings, some of them with beautiful ocean views. You can access Marbella from the international airport via the "Corredor Sur" (an expressway) that goes along the bay, also with beautiful views.
Transportation in Marbella is easy. You can take the metro bus public transportation, or the new metro, or simply, rent a car, or walk, as Marbella is very close by several other neighborhoods where you can find everything and anything. In the Marbella area in specific, because there are so many foreigners, you can always hear several languages spoken, mainly in the malls, like the Multiplaza, Multicentro or Albrook. You will not see a large green area in this neighborhood, though.
The area of Marbella does not have a history of its own, as separate from the history of the city of Panamá (because Marbella is part of the city of Panamá), and of the Republic of Panamá in general. For that reason, I’ll explain the history of Marbella within the broader context of the country of Panamá, and the city of Panamá.
Panamá has a very old and peculiar history. Traditionally, it has been a trade center, since the colonial times, where all the gold was transported from Peru and other countries in South America, into Spain, through Panamá.
Pirates burned the old city in the 15th century, and still visitors can enjoy the ruins and the historical tower from the church (you can see it coming from the airport). One important thing to mention here is the famous story of when the locals hid a pure gold altar when the city was taken, and it´s now at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Casco Viejo, which is very close by Marbella. This is something worth seeing.
Then, in the same century, the new city was built which we know now as "Casco Viejo". In general, the houses in Casco Viejo are only 2 floors high, and with picturesque balconies. Many of them have been renovated, but still many very old buildings remain. There is a law to protect the colonial architecture, as Casco Viejo has been named a "Worldwide Patrimony" by UNESCO.
Recently, the beautiful "cinta costera" was inaugurated, giving new life to the city of Panamá, and surrounding the area of "Casco Viejo", which runs until the Bridge of the Americas, by the Pacific site of the Panamá Canal.
I´m giving here only the main relevant facts of history, as Panamá is very rich in history, and it will impossible to mention it all.
There is also the history of the Canal, in which thousands and thousands of people, mainly from the Caribbean area, Africa and Asia were brought in to be construction workers. At that time, also many people came from Europe and the United States, and colonies were established, which is the reason why Panamá is a place where you can see all kinds of races and other country’s citizens. Everyone lives in perfect harmony. Today, there is a beautiful French cemetery that remains in the area, near the Canal.
The Canal operations business takes place in the Administration Building, which was recently restored and is a beautiful building constructed in the early years of the 20th century.
One classic place to visit and to read an important part of the history of Panamá and the canal is the "Bóvedas", in Casco Viejo, situated in front of the French Embassy. Not only is the Bóvedas historical, but also is a great place because of its view of the city, the causeway, the entrance of the canal, and to take great pictures.
Many things can be said about the history of Panamá, their people, and their landmarks, and information can be found through museums, books, and visiting historical sites.
Posted June 7, 2014