Casco Viejo's Rise: From Forgotten District to Panama's Greatest Revival

Casco Viejo wasn't always the vibrant, world-class destination it is today. Just a few decades ago, much of Panama City's historic district had fallen into neglect. Today, it stands as one of Latin America's greatest urban revival stories. In this episode, I sit down with my good friend and Panama developer Simone Di Giovanni to explore Casco Viejo's remarkable transformation and discuss why Panama has become such a compelling place to live and invest. Simone shares why he left Italy, chose Panama over Miami, and how he's spent the last 16 years helping restore one of the country's most iconic neighbourhoods. We also dive into Plaza Santa Ana, government incentives for historic restoration, Panama's thriving tourism industry, and why Casco Viejo continues to attract investors from around the world. If you're interested in international real estate, urban revitalization, or discovering why Panama keeps drawing entrepreneurs and expats, I think you'll really enjoy this conversation. -------------------------- 00:00 - Introduction 00:43 - Why Simone Left Italy for Panama 02:33 - Why Panama Won Over Miami 09:16 - The Story Behind Casco Viejo 11:29 - How Casco Viejo Was Brought Back to Life 14:42 - How Big Is Casco Viejo? 17:28 - Why This Historic District Matters 19:31 - Exploring Casco Viejo's Historic Plazas 26:25 - What Does Property Cost in Casco Viejo? 28:18 - Beyond Casco Viejo: The Other Historic Squares 32:11 - The Tax Benefits of Investing in Casco Viejo 35:06 - Panama's New Cruise Terminal & Future Growth 36:57 - Why Plaza Santa Ana Is the Next Big Opportunity 40:25 - Inside the Transformation of Plaza Santa Ana 45:08 - Restaurants, Hotels & Reviving the Neighbourhood 51:34 - The Hidden History of Plaza Santa Ana 55:23 - The Future Vision for Plaza Santa Ana 1:02:26 - Investing in Casco Viejo with Simone and Mikkel Apply to work with Mikkel Thorup: https://ExpatMoney.com/important-letter FOLLOW US ONLINE: 🐦Twitter: https://ExpatMoneyShow.com/Twitter 📱 Facebook: https://ExpatMoneyShow.com/Facebook 👋 Join our private Facebook group: https://ExpatMoneyForum.com 💻 Visit our website: https://ExpatMoney.com SUPPORT THE SHOW 📘 Grab my book Expat Secrets on Amazon: https://ExpatSecretsBook.com 🗣️ Easiest way to learn a second language: https://StoryLearningCourses.com 📕 My new book, Expats Guide On Moving To Mexico: https://ExpatGuideBooks.com 🏪 Check out our Online Shop: https://shop.expatmoney.com SUBSCRIBE: 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast: https://ExpatMoneyShow.com 📺 YouTube: https://ExpatMoneyShow.com/YouTube ✉️ Join my newsletter, EMS Pulse: https://ExpatMoneyShow.com/protection