Panama City, PANAMA - Cathedral Plaza - Hotel Central:  Panama City is the capital and largest city of Panama.  It has an urban population of 880,691, with over 1.5 million in its metropolitan area. The city is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of Panama. The city is the political and administrative center of the country, as well as a hub for banking and commerce.  Casco Viejo (Spanish for Old Quarter), also known as Casco Antigua or San Felipe, is the historic district of Panama City. Completed and settled in 1673, it was built following the near-total destruction of the original Panamá city, Panamá Viejo in 1671, when the latter was attacked by pirates. Among the areas main sights are La Catedral Metropolitana, the main Catholic church in Panama city, which is located in Independence Plaza.   Central Hotel Panamá was built nearly 150 years ago in the heart of Panama City, facing the beautiful Plaza de la Independencia in Casco Antiguo (Old Town). It was the first hotel in the country at the time of its opening in 1874 and quickly became a meeting place for intrepid travelers. Our clientele has included the French builders who constructed the Panama Canal, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and Count Ferdinand de Lesseps. By the turn of the century, the hotel was recognized as the finest in Panama, and its reputation for high-style European and American services was known throughout the western hemisphere.  Featuring a unique French-influenced design, Central Hotel Panamá is one of many historic buildings recognized by UNESCO for its architectural significance within the Casco Antiguo – a designated World Heritage Site in Panama City. The hotel recently underwent full renovations, including meticulous work to preserve the façade and original structure. The finished property creates a sense of historic luxury that can only be experienced first-hand.   This White Border Era (1915-30) postcard is in good condition, but shows some edge wear.  I. L. Maduro, Jr. Cathedral Square. Panama.