604km (374 miles) NW of Madrid, 155km (96 miles) N of Vigo

Despite the fact that A Coruña is an ancient city, it does not have a wealth of historical and architectural monuments. Celts, Phoenicians, and Romans all occupied the port, and it is another of the legendary cities that claim Hercules as its founder.

The greatest event in the history of A Coruña occurred in 1588, when Philip II's "Invincible Armada" sailed from here to England. Only half the ships made it back to Spain. The following year, Sir Francis Drake and his ships attacked the port in reprisal.