Panama City, founded in 1519, was the first European city established on the Pacific Coast of the Americas and was Pizarro’s headquarters for his conquest of the Incas. The old city was destroyed by the English pirate Henry Morgan in the late 1600s, and rebuilt a few years later on a more defensible peninsula, which became the second Panama city, where much of the impressive colonial and Baroque architecture remains today. The modern, cosmopolitan areas of Panama City add a third layer to this historically rich city. Visitors learn the history of Panama by touring these three-cities-in-one. Architectural structures in various states of repair survive from Panama City’s turbulent past and offer visitors an afternoon of sightseeing among the brick, iron grillwork, and Baroque façades. The nearby skyscrapers and casinos are a reminder that Panama City owes much of its cosmopolitan and international flavor to the Panama Canal. After the “Three Cities Tour”, you will have the opportunity to watch ships pass through the locks of the canal at Miraflores. You will hear a detailed description of the process at the Miraflores Visitors Center where you will also learn about the history of the canal.