Plaza de la Independencia

With the Catedral of Casco Viejo and other historical buildings standing all around and an airy gazebo standing at its center, the Plaza de Independencia has hosted Panama's celebrations of independence from both Spain and Colombia. It served as the center of the city until the early 20th century and is alternately known as the Plaza Mayor or the Plaza de la Catedral. The original plans for this historic site called for a square plaza, but it was literally reformed into a rectangle in 1878 at about the same time that it was made into a park. The 1980s brought another remodel, and today it's a pleasant place to stroll through, sheltered by pink-blossomed trees while gazing at the busts of famous Panamanians and the historical architecture at the center of this old city.