Santa Ana

In this age of modern, air-conditioned malls, boutiques and high-tech cinemas it seems hard to believe that not long ago, the center of town was the vicinity surrounding the small Parque de Santa Ana.

The history of Santa Ana spans three centuries. After the destruction of Old Panama in 1671 the settlement relocated to the Ancon peninsula, the southern tip of which became San Felipe - the neighborhood of the well-to-to. The northern portion of the peninsula, Santa Ana, was considered the "arrabal" (slum), housing slaves and poor laborers who were only allowed to enter San Felipe during daylight hours.

The construction of the ill-fated French Canal project (1880's) brought important changes to this off-limits district, which absorbed part of the international workforce that came to Panama during that period. The neighborhood's main square, adjacent to a colonial-style church, was embellished with paved sidewalks, tropical shrubs and a gazebo.

Towards the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, a large percentage of Santa Ana's residents were middle class and the area's pastures were urbanized with art nouveau and art deco buildings. The country's first cinemas appeared along the neighborhood's narrow streets, along with stylish cafés, such as the centennial Café Coca Cola, which is still open today, more than 110 years after its opening.

espite its tremendous growth, Santa Ana held steadfast to its humble origins - the gathering place of the proletariat who often demanded social justice from the upper classes with large rallies at the neighborhood's park. One of the most memorable (but controversial) images of Parque de Santana from the past is that of U.S troops during a military intervention requested by Panamanian authorities during major riots in 1925.

Since then, Parque de Santana has been considered a bastion of nationalist causes, although the growth of the city eastward is starting to erase its image from the collective memory of younger generations.