Christopher Columbus in Panama for Tourism Project

More than 500 years after Christopher Columbus I arrived to the territories of present day Panama, Christopher Columbus XX is back with plans for an ambitious historic tourism project called Castilla del Oro.

The plan is to recreate the 16th century in the provinces of Veraguas, Cocle, Herrera and Los Santos, emphasizing the folkloric traditions of music, dance, clothing, artisanal crafts and religious rites.  Homes would be converted into tourist accommodations; a gold museum would be built; parks, cathedrals and plazas refurbished; and micro-companies capacitated to attend to modern-day adventurers.

According to Columbus XX and his Panamanian partners from the Petaquilla Foundation, the Castilla de Oro projects seeks to lay a bridge of friendship between Panama and Spain. Like his famous grandfather, he is not just in search of riches, Columbus XX says.

“We should not forget that his [Christopher Columbus I] mission was impregnated with a profound religious feeling, as he hoped that the gold discovered would serve his kings in organizing a crusade that would return Jerusalem’s holy sites to Christian hands,” he said at the launch of  of the project, held last week at Panama City’s Miramar hotel.

In February of last year, La Critica reported that the Paseo Andaluz in Penonome, which is part of the project, was being financed by the mining company Petaquilla Gold through the Petaquilla Foundation.

Spanish settlers of the 16th century called the Central American territories, from the Gulf of Uraba to the banks of the Belen River, Castilla del Oro or Castle of Gold.