The centerpiece of the 57 acre Archaeological Site of Panamá Viejo is the 131 foot Torre de la Catedral. Built on the site of an earlier 16th century church, this stone bell tower dates back to 1626. It hints at the former grandeur of European’s oldest settlement along the Pacific coast of the Americas. Climbing the 115 steps to the top of the belfry rewards you with a panoramic view of the ruins below. They are in sharp contrast to the modern high-rises in the distant skyline.
