SADA

Indisputably maritime tradition, dynamic and welcoming, is today the most attractive in the nautical tourism. The wide range hotel offers visitors comfort and rest after an intense day. Sada A resource is to make it a unique tourist attraction. Needs time to walk and enjoy it.

Paseo Marítimo
 
It stretches along the sandy city offering a panoramic view of the tranquil river. In the days low can contemplate the stamp collecting shellfish products typical of our waters. The Promenade offers spacious green areas and playgrounds and parking.

  Located on the seafront are one of the most emblematic examples of modernist architecture "La Terraza", lightweight construction in wood, wrought iron and glass, originally built in the gardens of Méndez Nuñez of Corunna, and carried on until his twenties current location.

Paseo de la Playa 
 
Here you can enjoy numerous restaurants and terraces great atmosphere especially during the summer dates. The vacationers also have the picnic area known as "O Curruncho" for recreation and relaxation. It is here that takes place every year in August the sardines with the popular leading patron of the festival Sada.

Paseo Port 
 
Here you can enjoy numerous restaurants and terraces great atmosphere especially during the summer dates. The vacationers also have the picnic area known as "O Curruncho" for recreation and relaxation. It is here that takes place every year in August the sardines with the popular leading patron of the festival Sada.

Parks and Gardens

Merendero "O Curruncho"
 
The area known as "O Curruncho", is situated on the Paseo de la Playa de Sada, it is a banana-conditioned with tables and benches for rest and recreation such as sports, meals and snacks, barbecues, pilgrimages. ..

Jardines del Paseo Marítimo
 
It stretches along the city beaches. It is a garden whose main function is to beautify the area of the Paseo Marítimo. It also can be used for sports like football and shovels and to sunbathe. Also has Playground.

The Brañas

  This beautiful lake, very close to the village, occupying a large area of 23.655 hectares of high ecological and landscape, hence his deserved Environmental Plan within the protection zones.

Gaps and Junqueras this wetland were formed following the removal of clay by opencast numerous brick and tile factories (weave) located in the area. At some points the depth of the lakes reaches 5 meters.

Today, these missing Tejera (early twentieth century, until the'60s) are some remnants of the ovens that baked the tiles and bricks.

The natural habitat is conducive to the development of ducks, coots, herons, kingfisher and other birds typical of the area, as well as otters and some mustelids, and also abound mújeles large eels and convicts.

  Concern for the environment and the possibility of offering residents and visitors a natural environment transformed and recovered in Nature, was that in 1991 the City Council to commission the project "Special Plan As Brañas" avoiding action that could deprive the people of the enjoyment of this unique physical environment in which we find botanical and faunal communities that need protection. It also seeks to provide a space for activities related to environmental education.

The ease of access fosters the creation of teaching materials based on elements close to the natural environment, forming an area suitable for conservation initiatives with nature programs for youth education.

Beaches

Sada's coastline as a whole is low and sandy and steep north face, in the parishes of Carnoedo and Veiga. All along the coastline are placing outgoing and beaches.

Playa cirrus
 
In the north coast, in the parish of Veiga is Cirrus Beach, with more than 200 meters long and 2000 recreation area, also has a 3rd category Camping (Ve-lo Mar) and has a complex residential adequate tourism services.

Data Cirrus Beach

• Length: 220 m.
• Width: 15 m.
• Level of occupancy: high
• Level of urbanization: Semi
• Composition: Sand
• Marina next: Sada
• Nearest hospital: 20 km C H. Juan Canalejo OF SEA-OZA
  Estrada Das Xubia, 84 - Corunna - Phone 981 17 80 00
• Sand color: White
• Grain of sand: Fine
• Terms bathing beach sheltered. Wind, calm waters

Playa de San Pedro
 
Playa de San Pedro, about 300 meters in length located in the parish of Veiga. In the stream draining the beach that bears his name. It also has the Camping San Pedro.

Data from the Playa de San Pedro
 

• Length: 280 m.
• Width: 20 m.
• Level of occupancy: high
• Level of urbanization: Semi
• Composition: Sand
• Marina next: Sada
• Nearest hospital: 20 km C H. Juan Canalejo OF SEA-OZA
  Estrada Das Xubia, 84 - Corunna - Phone 981 17 80 00
• Sand color: White
• Grain of Sand: Medium
• Terms bathing beach sheltered. Wind, calm waters

Beaches and Arnel Lourido
 
The Beaches of Arnel and Lourido in the parish of Carnoedo, both with fine sand and excellent water quality, is practically untouched. The latter gives way to a small creek bearing the same name.

Data from the Playa de Arnelas

• Length: 150 m.
• Width: 10 m.
• Occupancy levels: Low
• Urbanization level: Not urbanized
• Composition: Sand
• Marina next: Sada
• Nearest hospital: 20 km C H. Juan Canalejo OF SEA-OZA
  Estrada Das Xubia, 84 - Corunna - Phone 981 17 80 00
• Sand color: White
• Grain of sand: Fine
• Bathing conditions: Wind, calm waters
• Comment: Access on foot

Beach Morazón
 
Morazón beach, situated in the parish of Sada, near the fishing port of Fontán. As we approach this beach we find the ruins of the fortresses that defended this coastal town: font.
 

Data Morazón Beach

• Length: 130 m.
• Width: 10 m.
• Occupancy levels: Low
• Level of urbanization: Semi
• Composition: Sand
• Marina next: Sada
• Nearest hospital: 20 km C H. Juan Canalejo OF SEA-OZA
  Estrada Das Xubia, 84 - Corunna - Phone 981 17 80 00
• Sand color: White
• Grain of sand: Fine
• Bathing conditions: Wind, calm waters
• Comment: Access on foot

Playa de las Delicias
 
Playa de las Delicias, in the parish of Sada, 400 meters long and 53 wide, is situated in the town. It has all the facilities: showers, health services, emergency services, etc..
 
 

Data from the Playa de las Delicias

• Length: 400 m.
• Width: 53 m.
• Level of occupancy: high
• Urbanization level: Urban
• Composition: Sand
• Marina next: Sada
• Nearest hospital: 20 km C H. Juan Canalejo OF SEA-OZA
  Estrada Das Xubia, 84 - Corunna - Phone 981 17 80 00
• Sand color: White
• Grain of Sand: Medium
• Terms bathing beach sheltered. Wind, calm waters

 A Coruña

To the right, the 2nd century Tower of Hercules lighthouse, the oldest and most famous image of la Coruna city.

Confusingly, "Corunna" in English is spelt "la Coruna" in Spanish and "A Coruna" in the region of Galicia (gallego), but all refer to the same district and conurbation in northern Spain. Just to keep you on your toes, we also interchange and jump between these alternate spellings.

The greater province of A Coruna is Galicia's most significant district and has the highest population, the greatest number of towns and cities and the most prosperous economy of the region. Its three main cities are Santiago de Compostela, the Galician capital (which has its own section in galiciaguide), la Coruna, the provincial capital, and the seaport city of Ferrol. The area is also famous for its many fishing villages, amongst the most notable of which are Ribeira and Finisterre, the latter of which lies on the infamous "coast of death" (costa da morte). If you visit our Galician towns section you can find out about these and many other villages and towns of the province.

A Coruna old town, the medieval district and more

In keeping with most Galician cities, A Coruna has a medieval or monumental district and this part of the town, referred to as simply "the city", still has some remnants of the old Roman wall that once enclosed and protected it.

Right a section of A Coruna's old Roman wall at the boundary of the medieval quarter.

The old part of A Coruna town does not match up to neighbour, Santiago de Compostela, when it come to the size and age of its buildings, but it does have some areas that are well worth a visit.
 

We approached the old town from the bay area close to the "Castillo (castle) de San Anton" and passed by some large sections of the cities old wall, most of which has long since disappeared. As you head for the old part of A Coruna from the Ocean side, you travel upwards and we passed by the "Museo Militar Regional" (military museum) which had some light artillery on display on its forecourt. To the side of this is the "Jardin de San Carlos", the walls of which can clearly be seen from the bay side below and which were once part of the fort of San Carlos (see photo above left). The fort was built in 1843 and the garden it now holds contains the tomb of Sir John Moore, famous in Galicia for his role in the battle of Elvina. This area also houses the Galician archive and has some city gates dating back to the fifteenth century close by.
 

Churches in the medieval district

Still in the ancient part of the city, the "ciudad Vieja", there are three important churches. The first of these is one of A Coruna's oldest buildings, the Church of Santiago (Iglesia de Santiago). Originally built in the 12th century, it was modified in the 14th and 15th centuries and has huge historic significance on account of a 13th century statue of Saint James which it houses. Some of the more prominent aspects of the churches detailing originate from the fifteenth century and are gothic in design. The photo to the right shows the church of Santiago's main entrance.
 

Also important in ecclesiastical terms is the "Iglesia de Santa Maria del Campo". This church was constructed between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries and sits at what is probably the highest point in the city. This church has a museum archive within it (open to the public) containing pictures and documents created between the 12th and 15th centuries. It is famous throughout Spain. The church design is both Romanesque and gothic in style and, like the cathedral at Pontevedra, had much of its building costs financed by monies generated from the sea, in this case the "Guild of Seafarers".

The third religious building in this vicinity is the church (photo to the left) and convent of Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo contains a chapel dedicated to A Coruna's patron, "La Virgen del Rosario". This convent is not as old as some of A Coruna's other buildings, but it is still worth a visit and is only a short distance away from the two churches described above.
 

More sights in A Coruna's old town

Located in "Tabernas Street" is the once home, now museum, of Emilia Pardo Bazan a famous Galician writer. This mansion dates back to the eighteenth century and is currently occupied by the Galician Academy.

Still staying in the general medieval part of la Corunna, other tourist stops of interest include a house where Rosalia de Castro (a Galician Poet) lived in 1873. By chance, another famous Galician writer also occupied the house next door.

Just beyond these houses lies an important plaza called the Constitutional Square. This square has a large tiled area containing a cruceiro, fountain and a brace of cannons. It is faced by a large military building (of which there are many in A Coruna) and to the back of this square is where the church of Santiago can be found.
 

Above is the square, previously described, with the pitched roof of Santiago church in view, whilst below is yet another house in which the famed Galician poet, Rosalia de Castro, once lived.

The Constitutional square (above) and Castro's house (right) are both on the same street in what is a small and compact monumental district.

For the tourist, A Coruna boasts mile upon mile of picturesque beaches, quaint fishing villages, and breath taking inland scenery with meadows, mountains and forests. It is certainly the province that has the most to offer the holiday maker and importantly has its own international airport (at Santiago de Compostela) and a large number of hotels, plus rental villas and apartments. Most foreign visitors to Galicia will spend their entire vacation in the A Coruna province and will feel, quite rightly, that they have sampled most of what Galicia has to offer without venturing beyond this provincial boundary. Certainly it is possible to see examples of the regions most impressive buildings, monuments, beaches, festivals and landscapes in A Corunna, but we would still recommend that the real tourist explore at least one of the other provinces as well.

Exploring this province is relatively easy and is made all the more enjoyable by the fact that you do not have to travel mile upon mile between its various towns and cities. A drive down its coast will service you with a different town every ten minutes, whist motorways and recent highways connect to Santiago, Coruna and Ferrol with good and obvious sign posting – a novelty in Galicia. Variety is also served up in good measure in the A Corruna province and you will find medieval districts in many towns, but complemented with modern shopping areas, large supermarkets and a thriving culinary culture.

As the district most visited by international tourists, A Coruna also has a large number of Tourist Information offices and these range from the truly appalling Turgalicia head office just outside Santiago, to the many excellent information points like the one at Porto do Son and those found in the larger cities. All told if you want to sample what many tour operators now call "real" or "green" Spain, the Galician province of A Coruna is probably the best place to start.

A Coruna’s architecture – galerias and the glass city

Galicia has a wealth of buildings featuring most of the architectural styles found in Europe ranging from neo-classical and baroque to Romanesque and renaissance. But the region also has a particular approach to constructing balconies known locally as "galerias" and A Coruna city must be the district’s capitol when it comes to these design features.

A galeria is nothing more than a balcony, but one that is enclosed in a glass frame protecting it from Galicia’s cool winters and making it usable all year round. Galerias can appear at first floor level, or on the six floor of a six storey building and there are many variances on the basic design. Those in shot to the right are on Marina Avenue which overlooks the bay of Coruna.

The reason galerias are so prevalent and significant in A Coruna is two fold. Firstly, unlike Galicia’s other provincial capitols, a large part of the city is "modernist" and was built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries – the galeria design was especially popular during this period. Secondly, the original fisherman’s houses (that lined the harbour and port) were built with galerias and subsequent structures that replaced, or were added to them continued this style.
 

Galerias Corunesas

If you want to see galerias at their best, then A Coruna city is definitely the place to visit and you have two great panoramic processions of galeria style buildings to look at. The first is the harbour front area of "Marina Avenue", often called the "glass city" or "crystal city". This is the spot where the original fishermen’s houses were, but today most of this area contains multi-storey offices and apartment blocks all of which are "loaded" with galerias. On a clear day, when the sun faces the harbour front during the evening, the reflection can be blinding and provides an impressive spectacle for all of the city’s visitors. This area around the Marina is called the "Galerias Corunesas"
 

Away from the Marina

Although A Coruna’s harbour is famous for its "glass face", a short walk into the city serves up streets with just as many examples, and even more varied styles, of galeria on display. The main areas in which you can see them are the streets of Juana de Vega, Picavia, Feijoo, Plaza de Lugo and Plaza de Pontevedra. One particular street (the name of which I neglected to write down) has standard shop and business premises at ground level, but every possible style of galeria above. The whole area has a feel and atmosphere that is totally different to anywhere else we have visited in Galicia and sets A Coruna apart from other cities like Lugo and Pontevedra.
 

At a first glance many of the galerias appear very similar to one another, but on a closer inspection many subtle differences become evident. These range from the size, style and colour of the glass frames, to the way that the galerias interact with their enclosing building’s facade and more standard open balconies. Many buildings alternate two or three levels of galeria with an open balcony, or reserve the galerias for only the top most floors of the building. Some galerias also have intricate detailing at sill level, whilst others are supported on ornate sculptured masonry – there is no fixed style.

Elsewhere in the town, galerias are also evident, but their monopoly is lost and they blend in with all the other buildings and architectural styles that la Corunna has to offer. Averting the eyes upwards remains the best way to appreciate them and if you want

The Maria Pita square

The Maria Pita square is probably A Coruna’s main city plaza and takes its name from the town’s heroine, Maria Pita. below is a shot of some of the terraced buildings that suround the plaza, with galerias at the top level.

Maria Pita herself came to notoriety as a result of her role in Sir Francis Drake’s attack on A Coruna in 1589 and she is credited with playing a critical part in reducing the losses of the Corunans during this assault. A new cultural museum in A Coruna has sections celebrating Pita’s life and also acts to illuminate the period during which she lived. I believe that her house may also be part of the exhibit, but am happy to be corrected on that fact!
 

The square or plaza to which Pita gives her name is grand to say the least. The main entrance (which you approach from the city’s harbour side) is distinguished and gives the impression that you are walking into a Royal court. This impression is further enhanced by the Town Hall and Council building (Palacio Municipal) which is truly monumental in both its scale and incredibly ornate detailing. The photo of this building (left) really does not do it justice and the three domed towers at its front are topped with what appears to be bronze as it glistens in the sun. This building also has a long colonnaded archway traversing its main facade and completely dominates the large square. Its appearance does however suggest a greater age than the structure really lays claim to – it was actually built in the early 20th century and is less than 100 years old. In addition to various chambers and meeting rooms, the Palacio Municipal contains a clock museum.
 

Below, a close of the Palacio Municipal showing some of the detailed masonry work that the building displays. After the initial awe of the City Hall, the other buildings surrounding the Maria Pita plaza are, whilst not disappointing, slightly less grandiose. That said, many are typical examples of the best of la Coruna’s architecture and include galerias and the region’s main building component of granite. All these buildings are either interconnected, or in very close proximity to one another giving the square an enclosed, but still light and airy feel. Unlike some of Galicia’s other plazas, the Maria Pita square offers attractive facades in all four directions and had all the tourists actively making use of their cameras and videos whilst we were there.

Also in this plaza is a statue to its "name-sake" heroine and several bars and restaurants, plus one of A Coruna’s tourist information points (at the opposite end to the Council offices). At the time of our visit, the square was also being used for festival concerts and was decked out with a large stage and lighting rig. Both Santiago de Compostela and A Coruna manage to attract major artists and musicians as performers in their main fiesta events.

Iglesia de San Jorge

Although not in the Maria Pita square itself, the square does offer a view of the small but elegant church of St. George (Iglesia de San Jorge), which you reach by exiting the plaza to the left of the Palacio Municipal. This church was built in the eighteenth century and is in the typical baroque style of that period. It has a slender and almost elongated appearance with two bell towers and also has the addition of an elaborate cruceiro in the small courtyard in front of it. It was designed by Architect Domingo de Andrade.

Right, a photo of the church of Saint George just outside the Pita square.

The Promenade and Marina front at A Coruna

One of A Coruna’s most visible features is its relatively new sea facing promenade and the interesting buildings and sights that line it. The main city is set back slightly from this walkway and there is also a road that separates the path from the town.

The promenade was started in the late nineteen eighties and the ultimate goal is that it will extend around the greater city to a total length of approximately eight miles. At exactly what stage the project is at the present we could not determine, but it gives the impression of being complete and certainly runs around the city bay and beyond. Above, part of the wide sea facing promenade.

The reason for mentioning the prom’ so prominently is two fold. Firstly, if you leave the city center and explore the bay and harbour area you will no doubt walk along the promenade which is well designed and attractive. Secondly, this path also has several of A Coruna’s tourist high points on its trail and allows you to leave and re-enter the various district of the town.
 

If you are not of an energetic disposition, walking the promenade is not your only option. A tram system runs along part of its length and has important tourist stops at some of the city’s main sights - although the ride itself is now one of A Coruna’s tourist activities.

What to see on the promenade

Aside from the combination of ocean and city views, the prom’ has some of the city’s most important visitor attractions and one of them is the Castillo de San Anton, now a museum. This castle (photo below) sits on a small headland that divides the main port area of A Coruna from the larger bay of A Coruna. The castle was originally built in the sixteenth century, but altered and amended over time. It strikes an imposing image, particularly at night when is has some subtle illumination. Visiting the museum requires the purchase of a ticket and the artefacts inside it are varied, but all connected to the surrounding area.

Also reached alternatively by the promenade, tram or car, is la Corunna’s most famous symbol, its lighthouse called the Tower of Hercules. You can find out more about it by clicking this link.
 

If you follow the route of the promenade round to the small bay known as the "Ensenada del Orzan", you will encounter one of the city’s newer, but equally striking buildings. This building is the "Domus", an interactive museum dedicated to man and everything connected to him. It was designed by Arata Isozaki and looks completely different to everything else in A Coruna. Right, the Domus.

Continuing the promenade route beyond the Domus, you reach the city beaches of "Riazor" and "Orzan", both of which have large waves and are ideal for surfing and you can also enter some of the newer district of the town at this point.
 

At the opposite and perhaps main section of the promenade, you have A Coruna’s large and impressive port. The city still undertakes fishing and naval activities, but three quarters of its traffic is now industrial including oil and coal cargos. Large Cruise liners also dock at la Corunna and the bay is constantly busy with ships embarking and disembarking.

Other sights that you can enjoy, or access, from the prom’ include the "Millenium Obelisk", a giant needle like structure (as pointless as every other millennium project I have seen), the futuristic and attention grabbing port control building (photo to the left), some sections of the old town’s original Roman wall and the city’s modern Aquarium.

A Coruna’s trams

Many of Europe’s major cities now have some form of tram system to help move people around and most are ugly and inefficient. The one at A Coruna is however somewhat different as the photographs will testify.

A Coruna’s trams come in different colours which I believe are red, white, yellow, blue and green. At a first glance the trams appear to date back to the turn of the twentieth century and look very reminiscent of those found in Britain at that time. On getting on to one of these trams, the clean and fresh interior appears to set the record straight and suggest that they are in fact modern replicas of older models – at least that is what I thought. Above right, the blue tram that we rode on.
 

The tram system runs from the "sea front" center of the "Puerto de a Coruna" encircling the headland and round to the middle of the "Ensenada del Orzan". On route it makes several stops including those at the "Tower of Hercules" lighthouse, the "Domus" museum and the "castle of St. Anton". The cost of travelling the full (one way) journey was one euro per person – you pay twice if you want to go there and back.

When we took the tram is was a hot August day and the breeze that came through the open windows was reward enough. That said, the route is highly scenic and, aside from giving you easy access from one bay to the next, also offers some great views of the coastline, the town and some of its monuments and beaches.

Among the many sights passed by on the tram was an ornimental landscaped fountain which you can see in the photo to the left, but the entire journey offered great views out to sea.
 

Finally, back to the trams themselves. They get their power from overhead electricity cables supported on red curvy aesthetic iron poles and each tram can travel in both directions without turning around. It sounds simple, but it is actually quite ingenious. At the end of each journey the driver "evicts" the passengers and then pushes each of the bench seat’s back rests against the direction of imminent travel. The double sided backrests rotate from one end of the seat to the other resulting in the "facing direction" of each seat being reversed. The driver then engages the controls at the opposite end of the tram and the job is done. The whole process takes about two minutes.
 

So what about the origin and history of the trams themselves!

When we were finally ready to exit we approached the driver and asked where the trams were made and how old they were? The driver simply pointed towards the small highly polished dashboard console. Our tram, the blue one in the photos, was made by the "English Electric Co. Ltd, London" just after the turn of the twentieth century and was now approaching one hundred years old. I doubt that there will be a single example of one of these trams anywhere in the UK – thank God for the foresight of someone in A Coruna.
 

To find out about another "British – A Coruna" connection, follow this link to our page about Scottish military leader Sir John Moore. Hardly mentioned in British history, he is a hero in A Coruna and Galicia.

Right, one last shot of the tram.