HOTELES EN LA CORUÑA | HOTEL AVENIDA

A Coruña, the capital, has earned the nickname of “City of Glass” by its geometrics features galleries. Open to the sea, Riazor, Orzan y Berbiriana, three extensive sandy and white beaches. The city has an active cultural life which is represented in the many exhibition halls and museums, such as “Arqueológico Provincial”, inside the historic castle “Castillo de San Antón” an old defensive bastion located at the end of a long seafront that the neighbours have become one of their main leisure points.

A Coruña is a city for walking, with many green areas as attractive as “ Mendez Nuñez Gardens” close to the port, or Santa Margarita Park, located in the Science Museum. In a town with so many street lives could not miss tapas bars, which are located in the old town, mainly around the street “Estrella”. The most requested tapas are: pulpo a feira (octopus), pimientos de padron (peppers), berberechos (cockles) and raxo(pork).

WHAT TO VISIT:

1. SCIENCES HOUSE: Science Museum and technology

Webpage: http://www.casaciencias.org/casa/

The House of Sciences was the first public-owned interactive museum in Spain, funded by the city. Permanent exhibition of science, technology and the natural world.

On the first floor you can find the module to experiment with the physical phenomena. In the second floor are the temporary exhibitions. On the third floor there are current scientific samples to be renewed every year. The dome is occupied by the planetarium, where on a vault of 10 m. diameter, are represented the Stars and the sky visible from earth.

2. THE TOWER OF HERCULES: The rest of Hercules

The Tower of Hercules is the world’s oldest Roman lighthouse still in operation. The Tower of Hercules is located between the cove of Orzán and the gulf Artabro. It is a Roman lighthouse of the old one Brigantium. It dates from the 2nd century during the reign of Trajan, and it was reformed in the year 1788 by order of the kind Carlos IV. It was built by the architect Portuguese Cayo Sergio Lupo.

It has a square ground plan, measures 68m and the light that removes is made out in the sea since a distance of 32 miles. The Tower is divided vertically in three levels, the upper, highest one contained the torch. 234 steps separate the base from the superb views at the top.

3. CATHEDRAL OF SANTIAGO: The end of the pilgrimage.

Official page of the Cathedral of Santiago: http://www.catedraldesantiago.es/
Web of the Xacobeo: http://www.xacobeo.es/

The Cathedral of Santiago is the end of the trip of pilgrims and its looks up an unparalleled monument. It is a Romanesque masterpiece in which come together, nevertheless, numerous architectural styles. The construction of the Cathedral began in 1075, under the reign of Alfonso VI and being Bishop Diego Peláez. The works were carried out by the Maestro Esteban on the remainders of old temples erected in devotion to the Saint. It was built with three nave and ground plan of latin cross, in a surface of some 8,300m2 . The Cathedral has changed its outlook, especially with the construction of diverse periods and styles (Romanesque, Baroque, Gothic, Plateresque and Neoclassical).

The Pórtico de la Gloria is the main entrance. It was built by the Maestro Mateo in 1188 and contains two hundreds figures about the Apocalypse. In its, the figure of the Saint James seems to welcome the pilgrims, standed up in a column since the Mullion. The Façade of the Obradoiro is work by Fernando de Casa y Novoa, and represents one of the most valuable works of Spanish Baroque art. At the head is also of baroque style and below the altar is the crypt containing the chest in which the mortal remains of Saint James are kept.