{"id":25984,"date":"2019-05-14T10:55:10","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T15:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=25984"},"modified":"2019-05-14T10:55:10","modified_gmt":"2019-05-14T15:55:10","slug":"infamous-welsh-pirate-destroyed-conquistadors-city-panama-viejo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com\/blog\/infamous-welsh-pirate-destroyed-conquistadors-city-panama-viejo\/","title":{"rendered":"How An Infamous Welsh Pirate Destroyed the Conquistadors’ City of Panama Viejo"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Panama City in Central America is a bustling city of 1.5 million people. It is a major financial hub as well as a popular tourist destination and fortunately the remains of the old Panama City <\/a>, an area known as the Panam\u00e1 Viejo, can still be seen and visited. Today it is a World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n

The Rise and Fall of Panam\u00e1 Viejo<\/h2>\n

The original settlement of Panama City, now known as Panam\u00e1 Viejo, replaced two earlier settlements located inland. Established in 1519 by the Spanish conquistadors <\/a>, it was the Spanish Empire\u2019s first outpost on the Pacific coast and in 1521, was elevated to the status of a city by royal decree.<\/p>\n

Strategically situated, Panam\u00e1 Viejo was used as a base by the Spanish conquistadors when they launched their invasion against the Inca Empire <\/a>. And because it was the starting point for the Camino Real <\/em> (Royal Road), it later played an essential role in the gold and silver trade. Precious metal from Spanish colonies was transported to the city and then transported over land to Portobello, from where it was sent to Seville<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Much of the trade of the city was in the hands of the Genoese, just as it was elsewhere in the Spanish Empire. Later, Panam\u00e1 Viejo also became a key point in the trade between the colonies in Latin America and the Philippines<\/a>.<\/p>\n