Panama City.

Plaza de la Independencia is Casco Viejo's central civic square. The cathedral, Panama Canal Museum and surrounding facades make it an efficient starting point for the historic district.

Stand in the square before entering the adjacent buildings: their facades show how religion, government and canal history meet in a few steps. The open space helps orient a Casco walk, with several major interiors close at hand. It is most useful as both a place to pause and a point from which to choose the next visit.

• Casco Antiguo’s central square
• The cathedral, canal museum and surrounding façades frame the old quarter’s principal civic space.

Use the square to orient the cathedral and canal museum before going inside either.