Old Panamá was the center for Spanish exploration and expansion in the direction of Central and South America as well as the center of commercial transactions between the Spanish colonies of the pacific and Spain and the Caribbean.

The ruins of the cathedral of Piedra, the monasteries, the custom houses and stone bridges are found in Old Panamá.

Modern Panama is composed of modern buildings and International Banking Center. In this area, we can include the Panamá Canal, one of the most outstanding architectural feats of the contemporary world and a point of strategic importance between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Panamá is also folklore, customs and traditions, which are faithfully represented by the central provinces of the country. Notable in Panamanian folklore are the dances, the music of the accordion and of the violin.

Panamá is also a shopper’s paradise. Most stores open from 9 Am. to 6 p.m. seven days a week, though some close on Sundays. Many drugstores and supermarkets with multiple outlets are open 24 hours a day, and there are shopping centers grouping various stores with restaurants, banks, car rentals, theaters, casinos and other services.

Since the population of Panama is cosmopolitan, there are restaurants to cater to everyone - Spanish, Argentine, Italian, Peruvian, Korean, Indian, Mexican, Arabian, Kosher and many more specializing in the national styles of preparing meat, poultry, pasta, sea foods, vegetables and desserts. Panama’s own cuisine is rich with spices, specializing in soups, dishes cooked in oil, and vegetable dishes. The national dish is ¨Sancocho¨

In Panama there are many historical culture museums. The most important are the Museum of the Panamanian Man, the Historical Museum, the Colonial Religious Art Museum, the Natural Science Museum, the Afro-Antillian Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the in-house Museum of the National Bank of Panamá.