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- May 1, 2025, 10:55 AM
- ☀️ 61 °F
- Altitude: 36 ft
SpainA Coruña43°22’10” N 8°23’55” W
A Coruña, Spain

The city of A Coruña has three major landmarks that make it known worldwide. The Tower of Hercules is the oldest lighthouse in operation in the world, and the only functioning Roman lighthouse. It has been a World Heritage Site since 2009. The next are the Galleries of A Coruña that give the city the nickname of "City of Glass" (the galleries of Avenida de la Marina being the largest glass complex in the world), and the third is the promenade of A Coruña, the longest promenade in Europe from which A Coruña earns the nickname the "Balcony of the Atlantic".
Our tour today began with a walk to the medieval old town and to the Plaza de Maria Pita, which is surrounded by narrow pedestrian lanes. In this square is the Monument of María Pita, a statue of a 16th-century woman who warned the city of Sir Francis Drake's attack on A Coruna in 1589 and she is credited with playing a critical part in reducing the losses of the Corunans during this assault. Also in the square is the Palacio Municipal, the beautiful baroque town hall and council building. Around the edges of the square are cafés and restaurants.
After the walk through the town and the square, we boarded a bus, which took us along the promenade and up to the Tower of Hercules. The legend is that when Hercules defeated Helion, he chopped off his head and buried it. The Romans built the lighthouse on top of where the head was buried. It sits at the top of a steep hill, and the views from the base of the structure are magnificent. Believe it or not, an excavation of the base of the lighthouse yielded a skull!
When our tour concluded, we went exploring through the town, enjoying the sights and sounds. It was the Labor Day holiday, so the businesses and shops were closed and the streets were full of locals strolling along, enjoying the sunny day. We eventually returned to the María Pita square because it's a perfect place to enjoy a sangria and watch the world go by.
A bit more wandering, discovery of a few churches, and many stairs and narrow alleys brought us back to the Avenida de la Marina where we sampled the local beer. Another beautiful day!
Cheers!Read more
Traveler I too love Sangria! ❤️