When I visit Casco Viejo, it is like going to a small European town with it’s cobblestone streets, ornate balconies and street cafes. Originally built and settled in 1671 after the destruction of Panama Viejo, Casco Viejo Panama (also known as Casco Antiguo & San Felipe) was constructed as a walled city on a peninsula off of Panama City to protect its settlers against another siege such as that suffered in Panama Viejo only 8 kilometers away.
Now Casco is under siege once again and Martinelli has announced that the plans to ring the town with a highway will continue despite UNESCO marking Panama as in danger of loosing it’s status for the site.
Despite concerns about the project from UNESCO, the government is planning to move ahead with the expansion of the Cinta Costera, which is expected to have an impact on Casco Viejo, a World Heritage Site. “We are going to respect the wishes of the Panamanian people. Panama’s best interests are to have a better highway administration and that is what we are going to do.”
President Ricardo Martinelli will not comply with the acquired commitments with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (Unesco) World Heritage Committee.
The president said “there is no pause” in the development of phase three of the Cinta Costera, and the structure will be “quickly” constructed.
In a meeting organized by the community group “New Generation” of El Chorrillo, the Ministry of Public Works presented residents the two options for the third stage of the highway. Those options, both of which have been criticized by Unesco, include building a tunnel under the historic area or building a bypass along the waterfront.
The second option appears to be the one favored by the government, as it would be quicker to build and mush cheaper.
In April, Unesco warned that a bypass along the waterfront of Casco Viejo would “alter the structure of the area.” It also asked the government of Panama to halt the project until it was studied in more detail.
The presentation in El Chorrillo coincided with a meeting between the government and Unesco officials in France to discuss the project.
What makes ‘Casco’ (as the residents call it) so unique is the both the residents and the number of original building structures which still stand today (in various stages of renovation and disrepair), the most in all of Panama. The 16th & 17th century Spanish & French Colonial architecture is breathtaking and only one of the many reasons that has attracted the growing number of foreign residents flocking to Casco Viejo as the premier destination in the Republic of Panama!
There is a rapid change happening in Casco Viejo as both Citizens of Panama and Foreign Expats (mostly European, Canadian & American) revitalize the neighborhood and renovate these historic colonial buildings. From the rubble is emerging boutiquehotels, Luxury Residences (Real Estate), gourmet restaurants, night clubs and bars (Bars Casco Viejo). It’s an exciting time to live in and visit Casco Viejo! Perhaps an even more exciting time to invest in Real Estate in Casco Viejo and some of the unique properties you won’t find anywhere else in Panama.
UNESCO designated Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo) as a World Heritage Site in 2003 which has brought this colonial city a lot of attention on the World Stage and has in turn attracted tremendous investment from abroad. What was 10 years ago a ‘forgotten neighborhood’ and rapidly deteriorating slum of Panama City is now arguably the most vibrant and exciting place to live or visitin all of Panama!