The city was founded on August 15, 1519, by Pedro Arias de Ávila, also known
as Pedrarias Dávila. Within a few years of its founding, the city became a
launching point for the exploration and conquest of Peru and a transit point
for gold and silver headed back to Spain through the Isthmus. In 1671 Henry
Morgan with a band of 1400 men attacked and looted the city, which was
subsequently destroyed by fire. The ruins of the old city still remain and are
a popular tourist attraction known as Panamá la Vieja (Old Panama). It was
rebuilt in 1673 in a new location approximately 5 miles (8 km) southwest
of the
