Santa
Ana's park during its heyday (early 20th century).
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.
Front view of Santa Ana church.
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.
View of Parque Santa Ana (2007).
Despite 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.
Impressive facades still stand in the
neighborhood.
