Introduction to the Province of La Coruña
The province of La Coruña (also known as A Coruña or Corunna) is one of the Galician provinces in the northwest corner of Spain, bordering the Atlantic. Its most famous destination is of course Santiago de Compostela but there is much more besides to occupy and entertain the visitor including some of the best seafood anywhere in Spain.

La Coruña City
La Coruña, the provincial capital city, is first and foremost a thriving, working port. Cruise liners dock here and its morning fish market down on the quay is here more fish is traded than anywhere else in Europe. La Coruña’s port of Ferrol is where the Spanish Armada famously set sail from in 1588. Despite the advent of the cruise ships, La Coruña is not a city that features greatly on the tourist’s trail and so still retains a traditional, working, bustling atmosphere, free from tackiness.

One of La Coruña’s main delights is its seafront promenade, nearly 10km of it. If you don’t fancy tackling it all on foot, a tram system also covers part of its length. Via the promenade you can access La Coruña’s beaches at Orzan and Riazar, both of which offer surfing when the conditions are right. Another promenade attraction is the 16th Century Castillo de San Anton which now houses a museum. A newer museum can also be found at the Domus, a very hands-on, interactive “Museum of Man”. Another great interactive attraction is the Aquarium Finisterrae where adults and children alike will be mesmerised by the jellyfish, sponges and starfish.

La Coruña’s most famous landmark is the Tower of Hercules, a Roman, 57m high lighthouse that has been in continuous use for over 2000 years and which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A fine, panoramic view is to be had from the top if you make the climb.

Back in town, the city has a well-preserved mediaeval quarter, surrounded by remnants of the original Roman wall that once totally encircled it. Within this area you will find La Coruña’s fine churches – those of Santiago and Santa Maria del Campo are certainly worth visiting, as is the Convento de Santo Domingo.

The Plaza Maria Pita is La Coruña’s most emblematic square, named after a city heroine. Around this square you will also see examples of La Coruña’s famed houses with “galerias” – glazed, enclosed balconies. More examples of these can be seen overlooking the harbour and this area has been responsible for the nickname of “The Glass City” that has been given to La Coruña.

Around La Coruña City and Beyond
The World Heritage Site of Santiago de Compostela receives hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, it being the site of destination for pilgrims following the Camino de Santiago on foot or by bicycle. The city of Santiago de Compostela itself is a beautiful place and is totally pedestrianised making it a delight to explore. The Cathedral is of course the highlight, with its stunning façade and the High Altar inside, the culmination of every pilgrim’s journey, along with the shrine to St James (his tomb). The symbol of Santiago is the fan-shaped scallop shell of St James the Apostle and you will see images of this everywhere. Don’t ignore the rest of Santiago’s monuments – the Palacio Arzobispal Gelmirez, the Church of San Martin, the Church of Santa Clara and Santiago’s numerous squares.

La Coruña has plenty of other places to visit outside of the capital and Santiago. The town of Boirro has a fine, sandy beach, the town of Ferrol is from where the Spanish Armada sailed and Finisterre, Ribeira and Rianxo are all important fishing ports.

The Fragas do Eume Natural Park is a densely wooded environment with the River Eume at its heart and provides a superb respite from the heady attractions of La Coruña’s towns and cities.

The Gastronomy of La Coruña
La Coruña is a seafood lover’s dream. Pretty much anything edible from the sea can be found here in delicious forms. Shellfish in particular are very popular. A typical dish is Mariscada, which is a huge mixed platter of whatever seafood and shellfish was freshest that morning. The fan-shaped scallop that is Santiago’s famous symbol does not escape uneaten and is served in a dish called Vieiras, sometimes breadcrumbed. Look out too for Parochas, which are small sardines, usually served simply grilled.

The Torta de Santiago is the emblematic sweet of Santiago and is a pastry and almond sponge cake confection, dusted with icing sugar with the pattern of the Cross off Santiago stencilled on top.

Don’t miss La Coruna’s famous cheese, La Tetilla (so named because of its resemblance to a small breast) or the wines from the Ribeiro region.

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