Panama means "Land of the Butterflies" in the Indian language, and in the early 16th century, after Columbus landed on the coast of Panama, he found swarms of colorful butterflies everywhere. So he named the place "Panama" in the local language.
On the whole, Panama City can be divided into two parts: the old and the new.
The old district has narrow streets and still retains some old Spanish castles and houses with terraces. The center of the Plaza de la Independencia is surrounded by the twin towers of the towering Catholic Church, the Bishop's Palace, the Central Hotel, the National Post and Telecommunications Office, and so on. The old quarter is the main commercial area.
The new district was developed along the old district, with neat streets, wide roads, large tracts of modern buildings, modern skyscrapers, and new garden houses, notable buildings include the National Legislative Building, the Church of San Francisco, the National Theatre, the Museum of Anthropology, the Museum of Ethnology, the Museum of the Canal, and the Bolivar Institute.
Compared to other capitals of the world, Panama City is a city dominated by commerce and services. Because there is not much industry in the city, there is no environmental pollution problem, and the sky over the city is always blue and clear. Especially after every rain shower, the rain washed streets, houses fresh and crisp, a unique atmosphere.