Coruña Things to Do

The eastern end of the south facing bay has a fort no doubt built to protect the city from the marauding British. For it was from this harbour that the Spanish Armada set sail in 1588. The fleet had some 130 galleons, 10,000 sailors and 19,000 soldiers to attack the British and Britain. The Armada met up with the British fleet at Plymouth without a decisive result , the Armada continued sailing the English Channel and anchored near Calais where it met the invasion fleet from the Netherlands, the allies of the Spanish.

The battle continued but the larger Spanish vessels were attacked by fire boats and the faster British ships caused the rout of the Spanish fleet, the ships left afloat sailed back to Spain the long way around Scotland and Ireland. Storms around these coasts
caused further destruction.

It is reported that 76 Spanish Ships returned to port and 15,000 soldiers did not return..

The Avenida de la Marina borders the harbour and stretches towards the west end of the city. The glass enclosed balconies called solanas line the Avenue on the north but give way to business and commercial buildings all along the north side of the Avenue. The south is resplendant with parks, gardens and museums as well as the port and harbour.

My return from the lighthouse included a walk around the promenade above the beach, there were several of these sculptures as I recall, this one looked true to life and showed the skill of some artist as he sculpted the two figures.

As you walk along the Playa del Orzan there is a fine museum to visit, called Museo Domus it is a combination of Anthropology, Natural History and Science. An excellent place to visit for a change of pace and scene. The other name for the Museum is Casa del Hombre or the House of Man. Many of the exhibits are interactive and the whole place is geared to the inquiring mind.

One side of the promenade was the beach, the other side included a road and then wall to wall apartments with hotels and shops along the length of the bay. The office buildings are behind and the old city, Ciudad Vieja is beyond those buildings.

The Torre de Hercules is both a present day lighthouse and a provides protection for a much older edifice that originates in Roman Times.

So for 1800 years or so there has been a device to warn shipping that the headland is close and also to indicate the way to the safe harbour.

Naturally it is located at the most windswept place on the headland with views to the North of the North Atlantic and the waves crashing onto the shore. No doubt a few sunken ships scattered around in the depths.

There is a bus service from the rest of the city but one must walk the last few metres. Try to chose a day that is not windy or wet.

The Roman name for the city was Ardobicum Corunium, they associated the area with the Labours of Hercules.

The impression this traveller has of the south facing side of a Coruna, is that of a major revitalization over the past several years. This change appears to have involved an upgarding to the road access to the harbour and port area as well as defining the older parts of the city as tourist attractions.

A Coruna is located on a peninsular open to the winds from the Atlantic to the north west and sheleterd to the south. Entrance to the harbour is from the Bay or Ria de Betanzos and is on the south side of the city.

The port and harbour are on the sheltered side of A Coruna and the palm trees give the city a tropical feeling.

There is an excellent promenade along Av de la Marina, that leads from the harbour, past the fishing port and Marina to the fort at the eastern end of the city. The area behind the glass covered balconied houses is the old city and is full of narrow streets and old buildings and churches.

The tourist office is close to the balconied houses and is accessible from the promenade, at the N.W corner of Darsena de la Marina

Having been to numerous renowned aquariums throughout the world i would have to rate this one as being up there with the best of them.

Excellent displays and be sure not to miss the deep sea sections which is located downstairs.

Outside they have pools with seals and another with octupuses, really worth a visit and a good reward for taking the time to walk up to the top of the headland where the aquarium finnisterrae is located just next to the torre de hercules. I think it cost 8 euros each entrance, good value for money.

One thing which surprised me about La Coruna is the fact that right on the doorstep of the city centre lies a fab beach which stretches along the western side of the penisula which the city sits on.

Well worth a walk along the Avenida Pedro Barrie de la Meza which is the road which runds along the back of the beach, where you will be rewarded with numerous smart sculptures, see the pic for the smartest one depicting 2 surfers riding a wave!!!

The Castillo de San Anton juts out from the headland, a fortress guarding the Port. The Castillo is actually built on a small island and has been artificially connected to the mainland.

Dating from the 16th century the impressive structure currently houses the Archaeological Museum which i did not visit unfortunately due to not having enough time.