Pirates & Shipwrecks · Roman lighthouse, late 1st century CE
Tower of Hercules
A Coruña, Galicia, Spain
What happened
The Romans built this lighthouse in the late 1st century CE at the entrance to the harbour of A Coruña, in northwest Spain. It stands about 55 metres tall on a high rock overlooking the Atlantic. It has guided ships for nearly 2,000 years.
Why it matters
It is the only fully preserved Roman lighthouse that is still used to signal to ships. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
What came next
In the 1700s, it was restored and given a new outer shell, while the Roman core was kept inside. Today, visitors can climb to the top.
Did you know?
According to legend, the hero Hercules defeated a giant named Geryon and buried his head where the tower stands, which is why a skull and crossbones appear on A Coruña's coat of arms.
Timeline
- Late 1st century CEThe Romans build the lighthouse.
- Middle AgesMany people mistakenly believe Julius Caesar built it.
- 1791Eustaquio Giannini's restoration is completed.
- 2009The tower becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site.