Italian Panamanian

Italian Panamanian
Regions with significant populations
Panama City, Chiriquí
Religion
Roman Catholicism
Related ethnic groups
Italian people, Panamanians

A Italian Panamanian is a citizen of Panama descendant of Italians who were attracted by the construction of the Panama Canal, between the 19th and twentieth century.

History

The history of immigrants in Panama begins from 1510, when several Italian citizens decided to emigrate to Panama City founded by Pedrarias Dávila. Between 1596 and 1597 already there were 11 Italians in Panama, for naturalization and the right to stay in Panama. According to a census around 1607, Panama City had 548 inhabitants, of whom 53 were foreigners and of these 18 were Italians, 6 of which were domiciled by the composition of foreigners. After de independence, the Italian presence continued to emphasize immigrants such as Agostino Codazzi and Napoleone Garella, who in the nineteenth century and at different times, performed studies that recommended Panama as the ideal for the construction of an interoceanic canal. Meanwhile, in 1844, Garella was the first engineer assigned by the French government to find a route for the construction of the Canal and in his studies recommended the route of the isthmus of Panama over the routes suggested by the isthmus of Tehuantepec and Nicaragua. By the isthmus continued to pass from eminent Italians scientists, artists, priests and merchants, to craftsmen and laborers. They founded families whose descendants were quickly integrated the dynamic process of formation of the Panamanian nationality.[1]

Massive immigration

The wave of Italian immigration occurred around 1880, with the construction of the Canal by the Universal Panama Canal Company came the arrival of up to 2000 Italians. Two years later in 1882, at the initiative of Mr. Oreste Badio, a prominent member of the Italian colony, was promoved the creation of the Italian Benevolent Society in order to help the countrymen affected by disease or who need some kind of help. With the presence of 37 members.[1]

Demography

Since 1966 Italy and Panama have come to amicable agreements between commercial and Navigation relations. This treaty also allows to Italians the freedom of enterprise in Panama, without applying for a work permit or having to apply for the type of an investor immigrant visa. Many current Italians in Panama, make investments of Business. Besides owning restaurants, hospitals and other places.[2] In Panama City and Chiriqui, there are many descendants of Italians, where even coffee farms have inherited from their ancestors, plus other businesses. About 10% of Panama are white,[3] which mainly are descendants of Italians.

Notable Italians Panamanians

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 La Comunidad italiana en Panamá Retrieved, 23/12/2014
  2. ↑ Panamá Visa de Residencia para los ciudadanos italianos Retrieved, 23/12/2014.
  3. ↑ "CIA - The World Factbook -- Panama". CIA. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-07.