Portobelo, Panama

Portobelo (formerly Puerto Bello) is a port town in Colón Province, Panama. It is located on the northern part of the Isthmus at {{coor dm|9|33|N|79|39|W|type:city}}.

Related Topics:
Colón Province - Panama - Isthmus

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From the 16th to the 18th century it was an important silver-exporting port in New Granada on the Spanish Main and one of the ports on the route of the Spanish treasure fleets.

Related Topics:
16th - 18th - New Granada - Spanish Main - Spanish treasure fleet

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The city is also involved in one of Captain Henry Morgan's famous adventures. In 1668, Morgan led a fleet of privateers and 450 men against Puerto Bello, which despite being well fortified, he captured and plundered for 14 days, stripping it of nearly all its wealth. This daring endeavour, although successful, also proved particularly brutal as it involved rape, torture, and murder on a grand scale.

Related Topics:
Captain Henry Morgan's - 1668 - Privateer

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On November 21st, 1739, the port was again attacked and captured by a British fleet commanded by Admiral Edward Vernon. The battle demonstrated the vulnerability of Spanish trading practices, and led to a fundamental change in them. The Spanish switched from large fleets calling at few ports to small fleets trading at a wide variety of ports. They also began to travel around Cape Horn to trade on the West coast. Portobelo's economy was severely damaged, and did not recover until the building of the Panama Canal.

Related Topics:
November 21 - 1739 - Edward Vernon - Panama Canal

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Today, Portobelo is a sleepy town with a population of fewer than 5000. It has a deep natural harbor. In 1980 the fortification ruins, along with nearby Fort San Lorenzo, were declared a World Heritage Site.

Related Topics:
Natural harbor - 1980 - Fort San Lorenzo - World Heritage Site

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See also: Portobello

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