This historic area, designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO attracts the interest of tourists, investors, foreign governments and local government offices.
The City of Panama’s Casco Antiguo has a special significance for the people of Panama. It has romantic, narrow, cobbled streets which open onto a number of squares named in honor of past heroes, beautiful houses with their balconies and façades, and churches, which are textbook examples of world architecture. All of this has captivated the generations.
Panamanians have a long-standing relationship with the area – it is used for TV commercials, video clips, musical festivals and other cultural events – and it occupies a permanent place in their daily lives. It is an ideal place in which to walk and admire the footprint of history, and to remember important events, all of which led UNESCO to declare it a World Heritage Site in 1997.
Experts agree that the designation is of great importance and places a great responsibility on the country. In 1998, after many attempts to carry out works in this wonderful place, a Top-Level Commission for the Restoration and Enhancement of the Historical Monuments of the Casco Antiguo was created. This comprises the Panamanian Department of Tourism, the Department of Culture, the Ministry of the Presidency, the Ministry of Housing and the Municipality of Panama . This culminated in a Master Plan which aims to provide for the comprehensive and ordered restoration of the site. The Office of the Casco Antiguo was established to help realize these efforts.
A good start was made by carrying out an inventory of the buildings in the area, which was then recorded in a database. Today, it is a very important document: a map which includes every physical and historical feature and the registration of every building in the area. In addition, an Incentives Law was created which has attracted private buyers and restorers as well as many people who wish to live in the Casco Antiguo again. Many handicraft shops, cafes, restaurants and bars have opened, and in the evenings, people spill out onto the pavements and parks, creating a great atmosphere.
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