HISTORY OF La Coruna

Previously, however, it was used by the Phoenicians, Celts and Romans. Evidence of the latter can still be seen in the imposing second-century Tower of Hercules, a lighthouse located to the north of the city that is also a landmark. After climbing the 242 steps of the oldest lighthouse in the world, you get a fantastic view of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding countryside of La Coruna.

The city reached its heyday during the 14th and 15th centuries, when it became a port of destination for many English pilgrims of St James on their way to Santiago de Compostela. The seven scallops on La Coruna’s coat of arms are a reminder of this period. In the course of history, the town was the scene of two more major battles. First, Sir Francis Drake was successfully repulsed in 1589 with the help of one of the town’s butcher’s wives, and later one of the decisive engagements of the Spanish War of Independence took place here in 1809. The brave 16th-century citizen Maria Pita, who became a symbol of freedom in La Coruna, is still remembered by the main square in the heart of the city, named after her.

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