The Tower of Hercules: monuments in La Coruña, A Coruña at Spain is culture.

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Architecture and monuments / Neoclassicism and the 19th century / Roman Hispania / Coruña, A

The Tower of Hercules

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Tower of Hercules and sculpture of Breogán © Turespaña

El descanso de Hércules (The Perch of Hercules)

This lighthouse has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Tower of Hercules is located between the cove of Orzán and the Gulf of Ártabro. It is a Roman lighthouse from ancient Brigantium. dating from the 2nd century A.D., in the time of Trajan, which was refurbished in 1788 by order of King Charles IV of Spain. It was designed by the Portuguese architect Cayo Sergio Lupo. It has a square base, measures 68 metres and the light that it casts is visible at sea from a distance of 32 miles. The tower is divided into three sections, each successively narrower, up to the lantern. There are a total of 242 steps leading to the top of the lighthouse, but the effort is well worthwhile for its magnificent views of the city of A Coruña and its coastline. According to mythology, Hercules cut off the head of Geryon and built this monument after burying his remains below.