Eusebio Leal Street named in the Old Town of Panama

One of the most emblematic streets in the Old Town of Panama City was officially named on December 12, 2025, as Eusebio Leal Spengler Street, in honor of the Cuban historian remembered for his crucial role in the restoration and defense of the heritage of Old Havana.

The ceremony took place in the district of San Felipe, where an event filled with cultural symbolism unfolded, presented as a tribute to the brotherhood and friendship between the peoples of Cuba and Panama, as stated by the Embassy of Cuba in Panama on its page.

The street, located on the well-known Avenida A, now features signage that includes a phrase spoken by Leal during one of his visits to the country: “Panama has the richest Old Quarter in America, due to its Spanish, French, and Caribbean influences,” according to Prensa Latina.

A tribute with profound cultural significance

The event was attended by the Cuban ambassador to Panama, Víctor Cairo, and Alberto "Beto" Tuñón, vice president of a Panamanian foundation dedicated to the preservation of historical heritage and a close friend of the Cuban intellectual. During the ceremony, Tuñón recalled personal memories of Leal, whom he described as a meticulous scholar and a deeply sensitive human being.

As part of the tribute, he read a poem written especially for the occasion, titled “La Habana, el Son y Eusebio Leal,” highlighting the close relationship of the historian with music, poetry, and the arts as essential expressions of cultural identity.

Tuñón also recalled Leal's interest in historical memory beyond Cuba, mentioning his attention to an ancient machete found in a Panamanian home where the independence general Antonio Maceo is believed to have stayed during his time in the country in the late 19th century.

A legacy that transcends borders

The initiative to name the street came from the joint efforts of the authorities of the San Felipe district and the Martiana Association of Cuban Residents in Panama, as a recognition of Leal's intellectual and cultural impact in the Latin American region.

In his words, Ambassador Víctor Cairo —who is concluding his diplomatic mission in Panama— emphasized the significance of the moment:

"What better day and occasion than this, when thanks to the commitment of many to the cultural and historical ties of brotherhood and solidarity between both peoples, a street bears the name of the universal Cuban."

The event also featured the participation of local authorities, including Mario Kennedy, representative of the San Felipe district, and was accompanied by musical performances of a danzón and a habanera, in a day that intertwined symbols and traditions of both nations.

Beyond the urban gesture, the naming of the street highlighted the relevance of Eusebio Leal Spengler's (1942–2020) legacy and his defense of culture, historical memory, and heritage as the pillars of the identity of nations.