Panama Real Estate - Past, Present and Future

Panama Real Estate - Past, Present and Future by Mona Sutherland and Julieta Ledezma

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Panama Real Estate

Since the Spanish Conquest, Panama has held a privileged geographic, commercial and cultural position. Panama was first visited by Europeans in 1501 on an expedition led by Rodrigo de Bastidas. Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien was the first city on "terra firme", founded by Christopher Colombus. After crossing Panama, Vasco Nuņez arrived at the Pacific Ocean, and it was then that the Isthmus gained importance as a passageway, which is still true today.

From this era, the first "Panama Real Estate" was erected, including numerous stone buildings. In the 16th century, these buildings were part of Panama's city center, known today as Panama City "La Vieja," which was destroyed by the pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. Nowadays, these buildings provide Panama City with a beautiful historical landmark. The total destruction and looting led to the construction of a new Panama City in 1673, which is better known today as Casco Antiguo, named a heritage for humanity by UNESCO in 1997 and is presently one of the city's most valuable real estate sectors.

From Avenida Balboa one can actually observe the stark contrast between the past, present and future of Panama. At one extreme is Casco Viejo, the oldest city on the Pacific Coast of the Americas. Casco Viejo's architecture is a mixture of influences from the Spanish Explorers and French Colonial, from the first attempt made by the French to build the Panama Canal. Punta Paitilla, also visible from Avenida Balboa, is a well established residential zone possessing the highest concentration of skyscrapers in Panama City. Next to Punta Paitilla is Punta Pacifica, an up and coming residential zone undergoing an immense amount of construction, including the well known Trump Ocean Club, among other breathtakingly beautiful high rise towers, all with unobstructed ocean front views.