On the way to the Canal - Portobello - Town of Riches
24 February 2010 | Portobello, Panama
Kelly and David
Very interesting town steeped in commercial history of another era: The Bay of Portobello was discovered in 1502 by Christopher Colombus. It was chosen as the Caribbean transshipment center because of its magnificent harbor and convenient location. From this port tons of gold and silver flowed to the commercial capital of the Spanish empire, Seville. Not going unnoticed by pirates, the town was assaulted by Henry Morgan's 460 man force and, with little resistance, he took the town, all its gold and a ransom of 100,000 pesos not to destroy Portobello. What remains today is a magnificent harbor with a sleepy town cradled in the ruins of that illustrious time.