Tower of Hercules
Torre de Hércules
A UNESCO World Heritage Site: a Roman lighthouse built in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. It is the oldest lighthouse still in operation in the world and a symbol of the city.
The Tower of Hercules was built by the Romans in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Its neoclassical facade was renovated in the 18th century, and it has remained in use ever since. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2009 and is the oldest lighthouse still operating anywhere in the world. The tower is about 55 m high. You can climb 234 steps to the top platform for views over the Atlantic and the city's peninsula. The Roman-era base remains at the foot of the tower. Around it is an open sculpture park with modern works such as the Celtic Compass Rose and the Gate of the Winds. A headland path makes a good stroll and a good place to watch the sunset. Tower admission is about 5 euros and free on Mondays. It's about a 40-minute walk along the seafront from Plaza de María Pita, or you can take bus line 3 or 5.
Opening hours
10:00 am–6:00 pm (until 9:00 pm, Jun–Sep)
Nearby sights
- Paseo Marítimo
- Aquarium Finisterrae
- Domus – Casa del Hombre
- Riazor & Orzán Beaches
- Museo de Belas Artes da Coruña
- Calle de la Franja & Calle de la Estrella
- Galerías de la Marina
- Plaza de María Pita