Parque Bolivar (Bolivar Park), Panama City

In 1826, Simón Bolívar, widely respected as a Latin American hero for his role in the region’s independence movements, convened the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama in the chapter house of the former Convent of San Francisco. There he urged newly independent Latin American republics to consider unity and cooperation in the face of lingering Spanish influence, even proposing a league of nations.

Although the plan for a unified state did not come to fruition, Bolívar’s military leadership helped secure independence for Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. In 1756, a fire destroyed the houses on this site, leaving an open space that was later named Bolívar Square in 1883 in honor of Bolívar’s legacy. Today, this space functions as a park.

At the center of the park stands a monument to Simón Bolívar, unveiled in 1926 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Amphictyonic Congress. The sculpture uses decorative friezes to evoke moments from Bolívar’s life and is topped by an Andean condor, a symbol of independence and liberty.

Along the northern side of the park is the Simón Bolívar School, a building traditionally associated with Bolívar’s time in Panama and the park’s educational heritage, though the actual Congress took place in the Bolívar Hall within the former Franciscan complex.

The park’s eastern edge is defined by two prominent historic buildings. On the left, the Bolívar Palace, which today houses Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Relations and contains the preserved Bolívar Hall where the Amphictyonic Congress was held. Immediately beside it, on the right, stands the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, the surviving element of the former Franciscan convent complex.

Bolívar Park remains an integral part of daily life in Panama City. Mango and palm trees shade benches where people gather, children play, and residents chat, giving the space a relaxed atmosphere that blends its historic significance with everyday urban life.