Early risers watched A Coruña come into sight as the National Geographic Orion approached the port city this morning. An iconic tower was the first thing that we noticed. The Tower of Hercules stands on a point in front of the city. It is the world’s longest continuously running lighthouse, having been in operation since the 2nd century AD. Even though rain had been forecast for the morning, as we pulled into the harbor the clouds broke and the sun emerged, providing a wonderful setting for our various morning options. Some of us went to get a close up look at the tower, traveling there either by bus or by bicycle. The rest of the group set out on foot to explore the Old Quarter area of this Galician city.
A Coruña is distinct in appearance when looking at it from the Atlantic with the prominent lighthouse. When you enter the harbor you cannot help but notice the unique architecture that lines waterfront, giving the area the name “The Glass City.” Tall white buildings with upper floors consisting of floor-to-ceiling windowed balconies, called galerías, extend from the street and form a wall around the port. As we got closer to these buildings, we were able see that many of them, though uniform in appearance from afar, were actually quite unique with adornments ranging from intricate and subtle to bold and ornate. Behind the buildings we walked through a grid of quaint narrow streets and plazas filled with historical landmarks. Our local guides told us stories of how the city the city’s heroine, Maria Pita, inspired the people to defend themselves against Sir Francis Drake’s invasion and showed us the school where Pablo Picasso spent his early years.
Food is such an important part of the culture in this part of the world, and a central theme to this voyage, so we fittingly finished our tour of A Coruña with a visit to the local market, an essential way to see local food culture in any city. Here we wandered through three floors of booths where vendors sold fresh fish, cured and raw meats, baked goods and produce to faithful patrons who rely on them regularly for the freshest ingredients. Our tour concluded with a sampling of local tapas and wine.
