Nombre de Dios (PAN)

Nombre de Dios was the first port on the American continent for the Spanish treasure fleet. Although it had already been explored by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage, it wasn’t until 1510 that the settlement was founded. It served as an important port, as it connected the Caribbean Sea and the recently created city of Panama, located on the Pacific, with which it was linked by a paved road known as the Camino Real (the King’s Highway).

This road connected by land the commercial routes of the Spanish treasure fleet with the Armada del Mar del Sur, which departed from Callao. However, as the city was situated near an unhealthy swamp and was nearly impossible to fortify, it was sacked several times and finally abandoned in favor of Portobelo in 1596.