Panama

Panama City is the capital and largest city of Panama, serving as the country’s political and economic hub. It sits at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, which helps explain its growth as a finance and shipping center. Founded in 1519, the original settlement (Panamá Viejo) was destroyed in 1671; the city then moved to Casco Viejo, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Don’t confuse it with nearby places: Colón is the major port on the Caribbean end of the Canal, and David is the capital of Chiriquí province. Memory tip: when a country’s capital shares the country’s name, it often adds “City”—Panama City, Mexico City, Kuwait City, Guatemala City.