Karl WP Beyer The Autonomous Region of Galicia is located in the north-west of Spain. La Coruña, "A Coruña" in Galician, is the region's largest city and main seaport. The city with 215.000 inhabitants is regularly visited by cruise ships. The reason: its proximity to the place of pilgrimage Santiago de Compostela.
Cruise ship Balmoral in the port of La Coruña
Guests of the cruise ships who are not drawn to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which is about 75 kilometers away, and its old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enjoy La Coruña's diverse attractions instead.
La Coruña - two outstanding sights
Even if visitors to La Coruñas have little time to spend, two sights are part of the indispensable daily program:
Torre de Hercules
Built in the 1st century AD by the Romans on a peninsula, the lighthouse is dedicated to the Greek hero Hercules. In Roman times the tower was 34 meters high. Towards the end of the 18th century the lighthouse was modernized. Since then it has been 55 meters high. A total of 242 steps lead to a surrounding viewing platform. La Coruña's coat of arms shows the tower framed by seven shells. In 2009, UNESCO included the Tower of Hercules on the World Heritage List.
Torre de Hercules
In good weather, the viewing platform offers panoramic views of the peninsula, the surrounding rocky coast and the Ría da Coruña estuary. Below the lighthouse, a huge compass rose becomes visible.
The cape is also the location of a sculpture park containing more than ten figures. Worth mentioning is the statue of Breogán. According to legend, the mythical Celtic king, considered the father of the Galician nation, is credited with founding the city of Brigantia (La Coruña) and building the Torre de Herculés. Breogán's statue stands in front of the entrance to the lighthouse. A five-kilometer path opens up the entire open space and the sculptures.
Maria Pita Square
The highlight of the historic center of La Coruña is the Praza de María Pita. Buildings with arcades surround the square in all four directions. A special eye-catcher is the town hall. The building, crowned by three domed towers, has a full-width arcade on the ground floor. The town hall embodies a historical architectural style; in fact it was not built until the beginning of the 20th century.
The name of the square honors the heroine of the city, the butcher's wife María Pita. – In 1589, an English armada led by the pirate Sir Francis Drake besieged La Coruña. The fleet threatened to take the city. María Pita supported her husband in defending the city. When he fell in battle, legend has it that she killed an English standard-bearer with a spear. The attack was repelled not least because of the death of the standard-bearer. The brave woman was commemorated on the square with a monument.
Maria Pita
It shows her with a spear in one hand while the other hand reaches out to her dying husband. The base of the monument is decorated with bronze reliefs that symbolize the course of the battle.
Places of worship in the old town
Church of St. George
On the west side of the Praza de María Pita, a gap in the ensemble of buildings allows a view of the Iglesia de San Jorge. The parish church with the two bell towers was built in the Baroque style in the 18th century.
Church of St. George
The striking church is open for services.
Church of Santiago Apostol
The single-nave, Romanesque church dates from the second half of the 12th century. It is the oldest church in the city and has been a “Property of Cultural Interest” since 1972. Carvings of the Virgin Mary and Roman altars from the Torre de Herculés contributed to this appreciation.
Location: Rua do Parrote 1
Collegiate Church of Santa Maria do Campo
The three-aisled, Romanesque church is also one of the old churches of La Coruña. A portal worth seeing adorns the building. It is currently the location of the Museum of Sacred Art with works from the 12th to 15th centuries.
Collegiate Church of Santa Maria do Campo
Collegiate Church of Santa Maria do Campo
Location: Rua Damas 24
La Coruña - La Ciudad de Cristal
From the cruise ship you can see the Avenida da Mariña. It connects the old town with the new town. A special feature of the street are the glass facades of the houses, which protect the residents from wind and rain. The buildings on Avenida da Mariña and Avenida Montoto earned the city the name "Ciudad de Cristal" (Crystal City).
Crystal City
Buildings on Avenida Montoto
La Coruña's museums and exhibitions
The capital of the province of La Coruña has an amazing range of museums and galleries.
San Antón Castle
Located on a small island near the cruise terminal, the former fortress dates from the second half of the 16th century. It was built to protect the port entrance and the city. After that it was used as a prison. When the fortress was handed over to the city in 1960, this purpose ended. The Castillo currently houses the Archaeological Museum.
San Antón Castle
San Antón Castle
Museo de Belas Artes da Coruña
La Coruña's Museum of Fine Arts looks back on 100 years of history in the current year. The current location has existed since 1995. A cooperation with the Museo del Prado in Madrid makes it possible to exhibit works by Spanish and European painters from the 16th to the 20th century that are well worth seeing. Other collections deal with Galician painting from the 19th and 20th centuries and engravings by Goya.
Museo de Belas Artes da Coruña - old building
Museo de Belas Artes da Coruña - old building
Location: Rua Zalaeta 2
Museo Domus – House of the Man
The Domus - man's house - is one of the largest and most modern buildings in the city. The facade facing the bay of Riazor, fitted with slate panels, is reminiscent of a sail. The science museum presents people from a multidisciplinary perspective.
domus museum
The motto of the interactive museum is: "Know yourself as an individual and as a species".
Address: Rúa Ángel Rebollo, 91
Garden of San Carlos
On the edge of the old town is the Jardín de San Carlos. Originally part of the city fortifications, it was laid out as a romantic garden after an ammunition depot exploded. Today the historical archive of Galicia is housed in the building belonging to the complex.
Garden of San Carlos
Aquarium Finisterrae
Located on the shore road above Riazor Beach, the aquarium is an El Dorado for sea creature fans. It is one of the most important aquariums in Spain. Its main attraction is the largest saltwater pool on earth. It is below sea level.
Aquarium Finisterrae
Aquarium Finisterrae
Fish from the Atlantic and the Caribbean are shown. In the interactive area of the aquarium, inquisitive people can learn a lot about life on and in the water of the oceans.
Location: Paseo Alcalde Francisco Vázquez 34
A Coruña's obelisk
Obelisco da Rua Nova
A Coruña's Obelisco da Rúa Nova is not an obelisk but a column with a clock, a capital and a weather vane. Inaugurated in 1895, the column has always been a symbol of the city and a meeting place in the city center. Colloquially, the term “obelisk” is used. Question: "Where shall we meet?" Answer: "At the obelisk."
Location: Rua Nova
Obelisco da Rua Nova
Millenium Obelisk
Millenium Obelisk
The 46 meter high Millennium Obelisk on the beach promenade, which is illuminated at night, is more like an obelisk. The history of the city is told with more than 100 rock crystals at a height of 13 meters. On January 1st, 2001, the lighting of the Obelisco was put into operation for the first time.
Location: Av. Gerard Porto
Monte San Pedro
The bay of Ensenada del Orzán separates the peninsula of Torre de Herculés from Monte de San Pedro. The hill (142 meters high) was once the site of a shore battery. In the 1990s, the Monte de San Pedro was converted into a large public park. Visitors use the dome of the Cúpula Atlántica and enjoy a maze. You can enjoy spectacular views of the city and the offshore San Pedro Islands from the heights. A panoramic elevator transports guests to the top of the hill.
Monte San Pedro
Elevator location: Av. Fernando Suarez Garcia
The city beaches Orzán and Riazor
Below the kilometer-long beach promenade are the two wide and well-kept city beaches of Orzán and Riazor. The sections of beach immediately adjacent to the city center are inviting and are appreciated by people of all ages.
The seafront
Until 2011, historic trams drove along the more than ten kilometer long beach promenade. The ride started at Orzán Riazor beach section and ended at La Solana baths near Marina Real. For little money, the trams offered a scenic ride along the coast. The trip took a wide arc around the peninsula and past the Tower of Hercules. Unfortunately, the trams are history. The promenade continues.
Walk
Promenade and city backdrop
We recommend walking a few steps on the boardwalk over the course of a full day stay.
Update June 2022