Plaza de Francia

The basics

Walking tours of Panama’s Casco Viejo (also known as Casco Antiguo) all stop by Plaza de Francia, where highlights include the obelisk, the Anita Villalaz Theater (Teatro Anita Villalaz), and the National Institute of Culture. At the southeast end of the square, you will find series of vaults (Las Bóvedas) once used as dungeons by the Spaniards and Colombians; they have since been converted into galleries, shops, and restaurants, but you can still admire some of the original brickwork.

Combine your visit with a tour of other Casco Antiguo sights, including the Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitan), the Church of San Jose (Iglesia de San José), and the Flat Arch (Arco Chato). Then, learn more about the troubled history of the Panama Canal at the Canal Museum (Museo del Canal Interoceánico de Panamá). Alternatively, opt for a bike tour and enjoy a view over Plaza de Francia and the obelisk from the Cinta Costera coastal pathway.

Things to know before you go

• Movie fans, take note: The Club Union, just off the square, was a filming location for the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace.

• You’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafés in and around the square.

• The large square is easily accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

How to get there

Plaza de Francia is located along the waterfront at the southeastern tip of Panama City’s Casco Viejo quarter. The square is about a 20-minute drive or taxi ride from downtown Panama City. To reach the plaza by public transport, take a bus to Barrio Chino; from there, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the square.

When to get there

Plaza de Francia is a popular local hangout, especially on sunny summer weekends, but it rarely gets too crowded. For the best views, come at sunset, then stick around till after dark to dine at the square’s French restaurant or watch a show or concert at the Anita Villalaz Theater.

The story behind the Panama City obelisk

The plaza and its obelisk, built in 1921 by Leonardo Villanueva Meyer, are dedicated to the 22,000 workers and engineers from France, Guadeloupe, and Martinique who died—mostly due to yellow fever and malaria—during the construction of the Panama Canal. Dotted around the obelisk are busts of prominent figures, most notably Cuban doctor Carlos J. Finlay, who discovered the link between mosquitos and the transmission of yellow fever, leading to the production of a vaccine.