A Coruna (La Coruna or Corunna)

A Coruna in Spain

A Coruna (La Coruna or Corunna) is built on a narrow peninsula in the north-west of Spain at the tip of which stands the Torre de Hercules - the oldest working lighthouse in the world. Originally built by Gaius Sevius Lupus it has stood and served for 1,900 years. It appears in many medieval manuscripts, including the Hereford Mappa Mundi, which dates back to about 1285. The naval architect Don Eustaquio Giannini completely overhauled it in 1785, in a very sensitive reconstruction that echoed the Roman design he found within. The tower, which had fallen into disrepair, was raised again in 1847 and stands 49 meters (161 feet) high. Today the lighthouse has been fully modernized and its beacon has a range of 37 km (23 miles). Climb the 242 steps to the top for a panoramic ocean view.

Other sights in the city include the fortress of San Anton, on an island in the bay, which now serves as the town's museum of archaeology and history and has exhibits dating back to the Bronze Age on. The fine arts museum is housed in the old Capuchin convent.

The Plaza Maria Pita, named after a woman who raised the alarm about Sir Francis Drake's attack in 1589, has the colossal Palacio Municipal, whose ornate facade and bronze-clad domes disguise the fact that it was built in the early twentieth century. The church of San Jorge is also well worth a visit.

Climb to the top of the Tower of Hercules for an amazing panaromic view of the ocean.