La Coruña Spain

The busy port of La Coruña (A Coruña in the Galician language) is located in the far north-west corner of Spain and is the capital of the rugged region of Galicia. Boasting a rich maritime heritage, the city is famous for being the departure point for Felipe II’s doomed Armada, which was defeated by the English in 1588. British military historians also know it as the location of the Battle of Corunna that took place in 1809, when Napoleon’s troops attacked a division of the British Army led by General Sir John Moore, who lost his life in the battle and is buried in the city. In keeping with its seafaring tradition, La Coruña is also famous for the Tower of Hercules, Europe’s oldest functioning lighthouse, which dates back to Roman times and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The town itself is well worth exploring, with its handsome squares, Romanesque churches and interesting archaeological museum. It is particularly noted for its long seafront promenade lined with elegant apartment buildings with fully-glazed balconies: these have given La Coruña the nickname of 'The Crystal City'.