Casco Viejo, better known as Casco Antiguo or  San Felipe, is also known as the "Gem of Panama", and as the Old City.   It is actually the oldest city on the Pacific Coast of the Americas, and dates back hundreds of years.  It lies at the foot of the Panama Canal, surrounded by Sea on 3 sides, with thriving Panama City on the last.

In actuality, this is the second Old City in Panama.   The first Old City was attacked by several pirates, including the famous pirate Henry Morgan.   In 1673,  Antonio Fernandez de Cordoba and Mendoza founded the new city in an area that was known then as Cerro Ancon.  The Spanish government built  a massive surrounding wall at this time, and created a much stronger fortress.  This, and the fact the city is surrounded by the sea on three sides, ensured that San Felipe survived with much of its historical architecture intact.

In 1998, Casco Antiguo was recognized by UNESCO and the United Nations for Education, Science and Culture as a World Heritage Site.  The Panamanian government offers tax incentives to develop real estate in this area, and they have very strong regulations regarding keeping the architecture intact.  Casco Viejo is defined as a model of panama progress.

Today, the commercial aspect of San Felipe has been reduced and it is now has a more artistic core.  There a plenty of restaurants, and bars, in fact some of the trendiest places to hang out in the city are here.  Several real estate projects are underway, such as Casa Rodriguez Pastor, creating stylish lofts, studios, and apartments.

Photographic opportunities abound, as the architecture is a blend of Spanish and French Colonial.  European and very similar in a lot of ways to New Orleans.  Buildings in this area, can be sitting side by side, but can still be several hundred years apart in age, and walking through the brick streets in this area is like living in a history book.

Its easy to see why this romantic area continues to appear in poems, songs and television.  Most recently, the streets of Casco Viejo were used for on location filming of the last James Bond film - Quantum of Solace.

For all these reasons, and because there are so many things to do,  such as bars, restaurants, museums and parks, Casco Viejo real estate has become one of the hottest commodities in Panama City, Panama.  Whether you are looking for romance, history, a place to live, or  a place to invest, Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo, San Felipe) is a must see location.