A Coruña Downtown

Galicia's "City of Glass" port, home to the Tower of Hercules — the world's oldest Roman lighthouse still in use — a long seafront promenade and superb seafood.

A Coruña is a port city in Galicia, in the far northwest of Spain, built on an Atlantic peninsula with the sea on three sides and a population of about 250,000. It is nicknamed the "City of Glass" for the rows of white wood-framed glass balconies along the harbour, and at its northern tip stands the Tower of Hercules, the oldest Roman lighthouse still in use and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The climate is mild, humid and Atlantic, with cool summers (daytime 20–25°C); June–September is the best time to visit, and the city holds its festivities in August. Winters are rainy and windy, but the waves are spectacular. The main sights fall into three areas: first, on the harbour side, María Pita Square, the glass-balconied Avenida de la Marina, the medieval old town and San Antón Castle; second, the roughly 13 km seafront promenade linking the Tower of Hercules, the Aquarium, the Domus human-body museum and the Orzán–Riazor city beaches; and third, Monte de San Pedro to the west, where a spherical panoramic lift carries you up for views over the whole city. This is the heartland of Galician seafood: the taverns around Calle de la Franja and the Plaza de Lugo market serve octopus, scallops, goose barnacles and spider crab at fair prices. Day trips include the medieval town of Betanzos and the old-growth forest of the Fragas do Eume; about 70 km south is Santiago de Compostela, which is the usual base for Cape Finisterre and the Costa da Morte ("Coast of Death"). Getting there: Alvedro Airport, about 10 km from the city, has domestic flights; the high-speed train from Madrid takes about 3.5 hours, and the train to Santiago about 30 minutes. The city is compact enough to get around on foot and by bus, and the promenade is great for bike sharing. Plan on 2–3 days. The weather changes quickly, so keep rain gear and a windproof jacket handy; locals eat lunch at 2 pm and dinner after 9 pm.

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