The Tower of Hercules stands on a low headland at the edge of A Coruña, on the north coast of Spain. The Romans built it in the late 1st century AD to guide ships along the coast. Almost 2,000 years later, it is still a working lighthouse.
We got there in the late afternoon, under a gray sky.
A Roman tower in new stone
The tower is 55 meters tall. About 34 meters of that is the old Roman core. In the late 1700s, the architect Eustaquio Giannini restored it and added the stone walls you see today. UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 2009.
Going inside
The visit starts below the tower, where you can see the ruins of the Roman foundations. A walkway takes you around the old stone walls.
From there you climb up through the tower itself. The stairs are narrow, the rooms are plain stone, and the ceilings are arched.
The view from the top
From the top you can see the city, the coast and the green headland below. There is a big compass design laid out on the ground near the water, and it is easier to see from up here.
The park around the tower is worth a walk too. Paths cross the grass, and there are stone sculptures along the way.
Practical Info
- Where: Parque de la Torre, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain.
- Tickets: You pay to go inside, but the park is free. Check current prices and hours with the city of A Coruña.
- The climb: The stairs are narrow, so take your time.
- Allow: An hour for the tower, or longer if you want to walk the park.
