Hola Espana - Exploring A Coruna

After a hearty meal, a celebratory bottle of wine and a massive sleep, we were ready to enter Spain.

We upped anchor and motored the two miles across to Marina Coruna in A Coruna.

Just outside the breakwater, I radioed the marina for instructions, pleased that they spoke excellent English (my Spanish is still very basic and restaurant and food/drink based). Clear instructions were given about access to the marina and one of the staff was there to collect our lines.

The helpfulness of the staff continued as we checked in (again excellent English from the staff), not only to the Marina, but also to Spain. It was all very organised and simple.

Due to covid there were slight changes to the normal check in. We had already completed an online form with our basic personal details and our vaccination dates and  had been issues with a QR code giving us the ok to enter the country.

Next stop was the immigration/police headquarters to get our passports stamped. Not everyone has to do this, but we needed a date stamp in our passports to prove our entry date to the Schengen Area (check it out online- we are only allowed to stay in the area for 90 days out of 180). Again, all very efficient, no doubt helped by the port police who had already spoken to us at the marina. They checked our boat against their list and knew who we were… the system works! They even called the office to expect us!!

Of course, no Spanish city is complete without several plazas and A Coruna is no exception. Its biggest and most impressive is Plaza de Maria Pita. This is named after a local heroine who helped to fight off attacks from the notorious ‘pirate’ Sir Francis Drake. The story goes that on 4th May 1589, English forces breached the defences of the old city. María Pita was assisting her army captain husband, in protecting the city. Drake’s brother was one of the commanders leading the assault and was killed by Pita. This demoralised the English troops, who began to retreat.

Today she is honoured by a statue in the plaza – somewhere which is now a place where the locals and tourists alike meet and pass the time with a beer, a coffee and of course tapas!

One of the must sees in A Coruna is the Tower of Hercules. The Tower has served as a lighthouse and landmark at the entrance of A Coruna harbour since the late 1st century A.D.  It stands on a 57 metre high rock and rises up a further 55 metres – 34 metres of which were built by the Romans and 21 metres were added in 18th century by thearchitect Eustaquio Giannini.

There are many lighthouses around the world, but The Tower of Hercules is unique as it is the only fully preserved Roman lighthouse that is still used for maritime signaling.