Marina Nautico is situated in the old port, smack in the middle of the lower city. La Coruna is Galicia’s wealthiest city, and it shows. Well maintained parks, boulevard and buildings. Many buzzy restaurants and (tapas) bars. Well stocked supermercado’s.
We find (again?) a virgin carrying a child along the lovely boulevard. Note the characteristic glassed in balconies and facades of the buildings.
Maria Pita took over command when her husband was killed during the defence of the walled city of Coruna against the English in 1589. Sir Francis Drake eventually abandoned the siege and retreated to his ships.
In 1809 Napoleon drove back the British. Sir John Moore died in the battle when covering his embarking troops in a “Dunkirk style” evacuation.
We visit the beautifully restored Castle and in-house archeological and historical museum. The museum is a breather, spanning a large period, but only showing highlights of each period and not endless amounts of arrowheads or amputated statues.
Liza was delighted to find historical artefacts about her homecountry, seen from a Spanish perspective, like Filipino weapons, clothing, a mock-up of the siege of “Iglesia de Baler” and more.
In March 1897 the rebellion broke out against the Spanish under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo.
In April 1898, the Spanish-American war broke out, initially over Cuba. In May 1898 the Americans obliterated the Spanish fleet in Manila bay. The Americans, aided by the rebbels prepared for the attack on Manila but on Aug 8 the Spanish commander informed that he would surrender under two conditions:
A) The US was to make the advance into Manila look like a real battle.
B) No Filipino rebels were to be allowed into the city.
Aguinaldo became the first Filipino president in 1899. After discovering that the Americans would occupy the Philippines after the Spanish defeat, he turned against the latter. His reign was short lived after being arrested by the Americans in 1901.
This lighthouse is probably La Coruna’s most recognisable landmark. It is beautifully restored from the earlier Roman structure and is the oldest known lighthouse in use today.
The Romans used a giant oil lamp in front of a polished copper parabolical mirror to power the lighthouse. Some scholars think that the Phoenicians already built a tower around 600 BC at the same location.
For the provisioning of our next trip we bought one of those “beasties” and of course a bottle of Orujo, the local Galicians spirit. But………….no drinking while sailing!