A Coruña combines an exceptional maritime heritage with museums, historic cityscapes and paths along the Atlantic. The Tower of Hercules is the only fully preserved Roman lighthouse still used for maritime signaling. Since the late 1st century AD, when the Romans built the Farum Brigantium, it has served as a lighthouse and landmark at the entrance to the port of La Coruña in northwestern Spain.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in A Coruña is looking at a destination with urban history, science, the sea and regional trails.
Culture and History
The Church of Santiago was originally dedicated to pilgrims who came to Compostela by sea. The Castillo de San Antón also tells a story of changing functions: it is located in a fortress built in the 16th century, which served as a defensive installation and prison from the 16th to the 18th century and later as a hospital before becoming a museum. The museum in the Castillo de San Antón houses archaeological objects from prehistory, the Megalithic period, the Bronze Age, the Castro culture, Romanization and the history of the city.
A Coruña’s Ciudad Vieja offers cobblestone streets, squares, churches, aristocratic houses and gardens connected with the city’s medieval and Baroque past. The Jardín de San Carlos is also part of the historic cityscape: it is designated as a historical-artistic ensemble and lies within the walls of the San Carlos fortress, which dates from 1843.
At the Mercado Municipal de San Agustín, everyday life and architecture meet. The traditional food market is located opposite the Plaza del Humor; its spectacular parabolic roof made it a symbol of modernity in A Coruña in the 1930s. The Mercado Municipal de San Agustín was designed in 1932 by the city architects Santiago Rey Pedreira and Antonio Tenreiro.
The white-glazed galleries on Avenida de la Marina, dating from the 19th century, are among the best-known architectural views of A Coruña and gave rise to the nickname “Ciudad Cristal”. The Ruta Picasso leads to places associated with Picasso’s almost four-year stay in A Coruña.
Science and the Sea
Domus is an interactive museum about human beings with more than 150 exhibits. Casa das Ciencias offers interactive modules and exhibitions on science, physics and astronomy, including a Foucault pendulum. It is located in Parque de Santa Margarita and offers astronomy exhibitions, workshops and activities related to science and the sky.
Aquarium Finisterrae presents more than 300 marine animal species in four exhibition halls. It includes the Nautilus room, located in a tank containing more than five million liters of water. Large outdoor terraces and an aquarium tank with a colony of seals complement the facility.
Trails and Landscape
The sculpture park of the Tower of Hercules has paths that connect art and nature by the sea. The English Way begins at the port of A Coruña and leads south through the province of A Coruña toward Santiago de Compostela. It runs for 6.8 kilometers through A Coruña and ends in O Portazgo in Culleredo; 68 kilometers remain to Santiago de Compostela.
Monte de San Pedro was formerly a defensive position and was converted into a park for use by residents and tourists in 1999. From there, there are views of the Atlantic Ocean and the coast as far as Arteixo, as well as of the Illas Sisargas.
Getting Around
A Coruña has more than 50 kilometers of cycle paths; BiciCoruña provides more than 500 bicycles for use at 52 stations. Transport options for visitors in A Coruña include a public bus system and readily available taxis.
The distances between A Coruña’s attractions are relatively short; the seafront promenade and city center are suitable for walks.
Cuisine
The food tour “Sabores de A Coruña: ruta gastronómica y visita al mercado” begins at Mercado Plaza de Lugo and includes tastings of Galician chorizo and creamy cheeses.
Places in the Destination
A Coruña, Bergondo, Cedeira, Neda, Pontedeume, Santiago De Compostela, Oza, Miño, Teo, Porto Do Son, Ribeira, Santa Comba, Puebla Del Caramiñal, Padrón, Oroso, Oleiros, Narón, Mazaricos, Laxe, Finisterre, Ferrol, Dodro, Culleredo, Cee, A Capela, Betanzos, Arzúa, Arteixo, Outes, Valdoviño, Ordes, Mugardos, Corcubión, Negreira, Curtis, Sobrado, Ortigueira, Sada, Carnota, Cabanas, Val Do Dubra, Cariño, Rianxo, Camariñas, Muxía, Monfero, Vedra, Ponteceso, As Pontes De García Rodríguez, Boiro, Trazo, Dumbría, Abegondo, Ames, Tordoia, Carral, Vilarmaior, Cerdido, Vimianzo, A Baña, Muros De Noia, Cabana De Bergantiños, Boqueixón, Brión, Zas, O Pino, Noia, Cerceda, Paderne, Lens, Melide, Bertamiráns, Cabana Moura, Visantoña, Marselle, Cambre, Leira, O Mesón Do Vento, Coirón, Queo De Abaixo, Carballo, Coristanco, Granxa, Nemiña, Sedor, Ambroa, O Sisto, Cruces, O Milladoiro, Gondollín, Merelle, A Laracha, Tambre, Quintáns, Cuíña, Loiba, Sesa De Abaixo, Xalo, A Igrexa, Manón, O Bosque, Basoñas, Ares, Bas, Oca, Marcelle, O Pindo, Seoane, Fosado, Piñeiro, Outeiro, Teixeiro, Santiso, Lira, Santaia, Biduído, Artes, Castro, Foro, O Coto, Oca De Abaixo, Pantiñobre, Tabeaio, Rúa De Francos, Caldelas, Santa Mariña, Rois, Andeade, Reguengo, Condomiña, Parada, Reborido, Baiobre, San Paio, Coucieiro, Dormeá, Vilarrodís, Esteiro, Porto do Barqueiro, Tarrío, Arcos, O Campo de Berdeogas, Guitiriz, A Enfesta, San Mamede, Donas, Arriba, A Ramallosa, Lavacolla, Prospes, Bergantiños, Altamira, Paizás, Fadibón, Mallas, Queiruga, Figueiroa, San Andres de Teixido, Ouces, Caión, Seráns, Dor, O Cabo de Area, Nantón, As Virtudes, Braño, Pardaces de Arriba, Calo, Verdes, Bandón, Corrubedo, Vilar, Castrelo, Campolongo, A Boeira, Beres, Extramundi de Abaixo, O Carballal, Os Fornos, Boimorto, Pasarela, O Alto, Miñortos, Mouromorto, Touriñán, Remesal, Mondego, Redonda, Serra de Outes, Viseo, Cesuras, Vilacoba, Calvos, Insua, As Restrebas, Vachao, Vila Da Area, Brión de Arriba, Boaño, A Aldea Vella, Valmaior
