Palacio de las Garzas

The Palacio de las Garzas (Herons' Palace) is the governmental office and residence of the President of Panama.

The herons were first brought to the building in 1922, by the former president Belisario Porras Barahona, at the suggestion of friend and famed Panamanian poet Ricardo Miró.

[1] The building is located in Casco Viejo, the old quarter of Panama City, which was built after the first settlement was destroyed just prior and during the sacking by pirate Henry Morgan.

Initially, it was used as a home for the Spanish governor, as a royal winery, as a warehouse, and as both customs and National Bank's headquarters.

[2] The building has served as the main office and official residence for all Panamanian presidents though some of them, such as Laurentino Cortizo, the current president, Juan Carlos Varela, Ricardo Martinelli, Martín Torrijos, Mireya Moscoso, Ernesto Pérez Balladares, have chosen to keep their residences elsewhere in the city and commute to the palace.