Torre de Hércules Visitor Center

The Torre de Hércules Visitor Center is the starting point for one of the most remarkable monuments in Spain, the Tower of Hercules in A Coruña, the oldest lighthouse in the world still working. The tower stands on a rocky headland at the northern edge of the city, and the visitor facilities nearby give context before you go up. The tower is a World Heritage Site, inscribed by UNESCO in 2009, and the whole headland has been developed as a park, with lawns, sculptures and paths, so the visit becomes a pleasant outing as well as a history lesson.

The lighthouse was built by the Romans in the first century AD, probably in the reign of Trajan, when the port was known as Brigantium and served as a stopping place on the sea route linking the Mediterranean with Britain and northern Europe. An inscription at the base names the architect as Gaius Sevius Lupus, from Aeminium, now Coimbra in Portugal, and records that the work was dedicated to Mars. The structure was repaired and later covered with an outer layer during a neoclassical restoration in the late eighteenth century, which gave it the form it has now. Inside, the Roman core remains visible, and the whole is about fifty-five metres tall.

The tower is wrapped in legend. According to a popular story, Hercules defeated a giant named Geryon, buried his head and raised a tower over the spot, and the city founded around it took the tower and a skull as emblems. Both appear on the coat of arms of A Coruña. Whatever the truth, the lighthouse has guided ships for almost two thousand years, and its beam still sweeps the Atlantic.

The visit includes a climb up the internal staircase, which is a long ascent but gives a sweeping view of the coast, the harbour and the city from the top. Tickets for the tower are bought separately and exhibitions in the visitor facilities explain the construction, the Roman port and the changes made over the centuries. Surrounding paths wind through a sculpture park, where large stone pieces stand among the grass, and the coast beyond offers walks along the cliffs.

It suits history lovers, families and anyone who enjoys a coastal walk, and it combines with the Paseo Marítimo, which runs along the sea from the city centre toward the tower. Allow around two hours, and check current opening times and ticket arrangements before you go. Wind and mist are common here, so bring a jacket.