Urban Layout of the First Ibero-American Cities on the Continent through Conventual Foundations: The Cases of Santo Domingo (1502) and Panama Viejo (1519)

Religious orders played a pivotal role in shaping the urban layouts of two early Ibero-American cities, Santo Domingo and Panama Viejo. In Santo Domingo (1502), convents established on city outskirts directed expansion along grid-like axes, reinforcing urban control. Conversely, Panama Viejo's (1519) design emerged from longitudinal streets dominated by convents, defining its structure until its abandonment in 1671. This study leverages cartography, historical records, and GIS analysis to compare their evolution, revealing how religious power influenced colonial urbanism. Findings highlight the significance of conventual foundations in structuring early American cities.

Cubero-Hernández, A., Raony Silva, E., & Arroyo Duarte, S. (2022). Urban Layout of the First Ibero-American Cities on the Continent through Conventual Foundations: The Cases of Santo Domingo (1502) and Panama Viejo (1519). Land, 11(12), 2144. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122144