Wandering Around: Casco Viejo, Panama

Some call it the last true Panamanian neighborhood; locals call it a tourist trap. Either way, there’s no denying the simple beauty of Casco Viejo, Panama.

Located in the southwest corner of Panama City, Casco Viejo is the more laid-back cousin of other, livelier neighborhoods such as Amador Causeway and Calle Uruguay. We took our time strolling through the narrow alleys, which are often lined with wrought iron balconies covered in drying laundry.

Now designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, Casco Viejo was completed and settled in 1673, following the near-total destruction of the original city in 1671 when pirates, including Henry Morgan, attacked its center.

The evidence of Casco Viejo's resilience is clear in the faces of the locals, in the Panamanian flags hung on windshields of cabs, and in the foundation of its buildings, which refuse to budge even when the whole world sails through its city. 

The magic lies in what's left behind.