Galicia,
Spain Travel & Accommodation Guide
Hotels
& Tours in A Coruña & Province, Galicia, Spain
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The
province of Coruña in Spain by Martin Lambert
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A Coruña Hotels
The province of A Coruña
is to be found in northern Spain in the region known as Galicia.
Coruña has several
claims to fame. Firstly it is home to the city of Santiago de Compostela
(lit. "of the star field") whose massive cathedral holds the remains of
the apostle Saint James. But another of the provinces cities, Ferrol, was
the launching point for Spain's ill fated Armada against the English in
1588.
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Most visitors to this area
center their trip around Santiago
de Compostela and with good reason. Santiago has a large medieval
quarter that not only contains its impressive cathedral, but also an array
of equally inspiring architectural gems including palaces, monasteries
and museums. The city is also known for its pilgrimage called the "way
of St. James" which attracts tens of thousands of Christian visitors every
year. These pilgrims come from as far a field as France and make the entire
journey on foot staying at specially designated hostels on route. Their
reward, if and when they complete their journey, is a certificate and mass
at the cathedral.
Santiago's pilgrims are also
notable for another reason. In addition to walking with traditional long
crooked staffs, they also attach a "clam" clam shell to the staff itself.
It is thought that in earlier times this shell, now the symbol of Santiago,
could have been used as a multi purpose utensil to scoop water from a river
or act as a small dish. |
Away from Santiago, A
Coruña city also has a few sights of its own ranging from the
world's oldest working lighthouse, built by the Romans, to coastal forts
and the regions biggest marina. Coruña is also renown for the glass
fronted buildings lining its marina which have given rise to the city being
known as the "glass city". In addition to its older buildings, A Coruña
also has the futuristic "Domus" building which is a celebration of man
- a museum of sorts!
| As Galicia's most prosperous
province, Coruña has many towns and most of these have a location
and history associated with the sea. Coruña has always derived much
of its wealth from fishing and its deep water ports, including Ribeira,
land vast quantities of fish and assorted seafood.
From a visitor's point of
view places like Rianxo, a beautiful coastal town, along with neighbouring
port town, A Pobra do Caraminal, offer an opportunity to see the less commercialised
side of Coruña province. These towns have traditional central plazas
called "alamedas" along with a look and feel all of their own. If you visit
one of these places you will also notice that everything grinds to a halt
at 2.00pm for afternoon siesta and only starts to come to life again between
4.30pm and 5.00pm. The compensation for this extended lunch is the long
working "afternoon" which does not end until around 9.00pm at night! |
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Staying in A Coruña,
but moving inland, there is plenty more to see including the ancient and
once highly important town of Padron.
Padron is a town of two halves.
The new part is ugly and does not warrant a mention, but the old district
is quaint, has a river running through it and also hails as the home of
Galicia's most famous daughter, the author and poet Rosalia de Castro.
Although not known outside Spain, Castro is a real folk hero and there
is a museum dedicated to her in her former house. Padron is also famous
for two other reasons, the hot chilli peppers it produces and its biblical
location as the preaching point of Saint James.
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A Coruña
Hotels
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| About the Author - A
visitor and vacationer to Galicia. |
A
CORUÑA FEATURED HOTELS |
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about A Coruña - Search
for hotels in A Coruña/La Coruña and Province
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AC
A Coruña, A Coruña
The modern AC A Coruña
Hotel is located 1 kilometre from the historic centre of A Coruña
and 4 kilometres from the airport. Riazor Beach is 1 kilometre away and
San Anton Castle is 4 kilometres from the hotel. After a day's sightseeing,
guests can enjoy a relaxing sauna or workout at the hotel's fitness centre,
or head for the bar. The Casa Paula restaurant, with its stylish furniture
and wood-panelled walls, serves typical Galician specialities and international
dishes, with a selection of fine Spanish wines. Complimentary newspapers
are available in the lobby, and business guests are well catered for with
a business centre with audio-visual equipment, four conference rooms, and
a computer rental service. Multilingual staff at the 24-hour front desk
can advise on local attractions, as well as making restaurant reservations
and booking excursions. |
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Eurostars
Ciudad de la Coruña, A Coruña
The Eurostars Ciudad de
la Coruna is located in La Coruna, Spain, within Escultorico Park. The
hotel is 200 metres from the beach and 600 metres from Hercules Tower.
San Anton Castle and Maria Pita Square are one kilometre away. This modern
hotel has an onsite health club with fitness equipment, spa tub, and a
sauna. Guests can order from room service, and parking is complimentary.
Eurostars Ciudad de la Coruna's informal restaurant serves local and international
dishes. The 31 guestrooms feature cable television, air conditioning, refrigerators,
and telephones. All have hydrotherapy bathtubs. |
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Hesperia
A Coruña, A Coruña
A modern hotel is situated
in La Coruña city centre, the Hesperia A Coruña is 50 metres
from the beach and Deportivo football stadium. Within 100 metres of the
hotel are the Tower of Hercules - the oldest working lighthouse in the
world. La Coruña airport is eight kilometres from the hotel.
Guests of the hotel can dine in the Al Punto restaurant where a menu of
Mediterranean and international dishes is complemented by regional cooking.
After dinner guests can enjoy a drink or two in the bar. Other amenities
include complimentary Internet connections in public areas, room service
and nearby parking for guests with their own vehicles. For business travellers
there are meeting and conference rooms, audio-visual equipment, and a dedicated
business centre. |
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Hesperia
Finisterre, A Coruña
Set in La Coruña's
old town, the Hotel Hesperia Finisterre has a mock-classical façade
featuring pillars and moulded stone, and is opposite the port. Nearby attractions
include Castillo de San Anton Archaeology and History Museum, housed in
a 16th century fort, which is 500 metres away and the Science Museum with
planetarium, which is 1.5 kilometres away. The Tower of Hercules, the only
working Roman lighthouse in the world, built in the 2nd century AD and
the Fine Arts Museum are both two kilometres away and the Domus Museum,
dedicated to an in-depth exploration of mankind is 2.5 kilometres away.
At the restaurant Ara Solis guests can enjoy a wide range of Galician specialties
with views out onto La Coruña harbour. The hotel houses its own
bar and cafeteria and features a hairdresser and on-site shopping. Guests
can enjoy the hotel's 28,000 square foot sports complex, La Solana, complete
with gym and sauna and make use of the outdoor pool and tennis court. |
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Hotel
Riazor, A Coruña
Hotel Riazor is a 12-floor
hotel situated across the promenade from A Coruña beach, 450 metres
from the Avenida de la Marina. Guests will find several cultural attractions
close to the hotel, including the old town one kilometre away and the world's
oldest lighthouse, the Tower of Hercules, two kilometres away. The nearest
airport is A Coruña, which is eight kilometres from the hotel and
takes around 20 minutes to reach by car. Guests can relax with a coffee
in the hotel café before crossing the promenade to the beach. After
a day on the beach, guests can enjoy a meal in the Riazor restaurant, which
serves a combination of international dishes and Galician fare, or the
informal restaurant Orzan, which serves tapas and light snacks. |
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Melia
Maria Pita, A Coruña
The Melia Maria Pita is
located in La Coruna, Spain. The beach is across the street, the Old City
is 500 metres away, and the Tower of Hercules, a historic Roman lighthouse,
is at a one-kilometre distance. The train station is situated three kilometres
from the hotel. Offering sea views, the Melia Maria Pita occupies
a six-storey property with stone and glass façade and opens to a
plant-filled lobby area finished with marble. The hotel offers garage
parking (surcharge), and car rental services can be found at reception.
Guests can also take advantage of the 24-hour concierge service.
The Melia Maria Pita houses the traditional Trueiro Restaurant, serving
a range of Galician and international dishes. The restaurant extends to
a marble-floored indoor patio filled with plants and has two private rooms
for up to 16 people. A buffet breakfast is available daily. |
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| FERROL
FEATURED HOTELS - A CORUÑA PROVINCE, GALICIA, SPAIN |
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| Ferrol
- in A Coruña
province, north west Spain, in Galicia. The naval base on the Atlantic
was built in the 18th century and is one of the most important in Spain.
Shipbuilding and ironworks are the main industries. Francisco Franco, El
Caudillo, was born there, and from 1939 to the early 1980s it was known
as El Ferrol del Caudillo. |
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| Visit
Ferrol and Western Rias Altas |
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Hesperia
Ferrol
The modern Hesperia hotel
is located at the intersection of central Ferrol's two main roads, 500
metres from the town's bus and railway stations. Situated in the town centre,
hotel guests are one kilometre from the main shopping area, restaurants
and cinemas. Visitors wishing to explore the region will find quiet, sandy
beaches and picturesque Galician villages within 16 kilometres of Ferrol.
Guests can relax with a drink in the lounge bar and work online throughout
the hotel thanks to free, wireless Internet access. Continental buffet
breakfasts are served in the breakfast room and guests can enjoy Galician
specialities and Mediterranean dishes in the relaxed restaurant.
The front desk is open round the clock and guests can take advantage of
room service. |
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Hotel
Husa Odeon, Ferrol
The Hotel Husa Odeon is
a modern four-floor property situated in the business centre of A Gandara,
two kilometres from the shopping centre in Naron and 10 kilometres from
the beaches of the Atlantic sea. The area's naval history is prevalent
throughout, from the shipping yards to the Naval Museum three kilometres
away. Alternatively, visitors can enjoy the beautiful surroundings
of the Fragas do Eume Nature Reserve, 12 kilometres away. Guests can relax
with a drink and a newspaper in the lounge, while multilingual staff at
the 24-hour front desk are on hand to offer advice and assistance. A reception
room can accommodate up to 350 people for celebrations, while business
travellers benefit from two meeting rooms, which can hold up to 60 people.
WIFI Internet connections are available throughout the hotel, and those
arriving by car will find private parking. |
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Parador
de Ferrol, Ferrol
In the centre of Ferrol,
an attractive, seafaring city, the Parador rises up, recreating in its
image the essence of a Galician mansion with glazed galleries and a singular
marine setting. The decoration displays nautical elements, world maps and
navigational instruments in the common rooms and spaces. The main staircase
has an ancient lamp from a boat and the maritime motifs abound in the living
rooms. The bedrooms are spacious and boast ochre and dark shades; some,
with viewpoints and balconies, are favoured by magnificent views over the
port. Enjoy fantastic views from the Parador windows whilst having a delicious
breakfast. The restaurant serves squid in mugardesa sauce. Don’t miss the
local Ferrol cake on the dessert menu. Unmissable! |
Visit
Ferrol and Western Rias Altas by Scott James
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Ferrol Hotels
Northern Spain and Galicia
particularly has long been an undiscovered jewel in the whole of the Spanish
tourism industry and within that undiscovered jewel in particular we are
going to take a look at Ferrol.
Overall of all of the autonomous
regions of Spain possibly Galicia is the most remote and this makes Ferrol
even more of an undiscovered treasure.
Traditionally, Galicia was
seen as a poor agricultural region, whose economy did not lend itself to
modernisation and yet as far as tourism is concerned it is this constant
contact with the past that gives the region its appeal and charm.
 The
Galicians, whose origins are Celtic, are fiercely proud of their culture
and language; it is what makes them unique (they feel) within modern day
Spain.
It absorbed little in the
way of outside influence being fiercely resistant to all forms of outside
intervention (and we mean all forms of outside intervention), was never
conquered by the Moors, and in the Middle Ages fell under the control of
the kingdom of Asturias.
Thankfully slowly throughout
the 20th century Galicia has begun to develop a way in which to manage
the traditional lifestyles with a modern community to ensure that none
of its rich history is lost and this is now starting to show very real
and tangible benefits as far as the local tourism economy is concerned.
Ferrol can be found on the
northern coast of Galicia and is mid way between the coastlines known as
the Rias Altas and the Costa da Morte. It is located on the northern shores
of the Ria de Betanzos.
Ferrol is perhaps better
known for one of the towns most famous (or infamous) sons, a certain Francisco
France y Bahamonde who later on in life became better known as just simply
General Franco, leader of Spain between the between the 1930's up until
the ate 1960's and extremely influential up until his death in 1975.
Perhaps it is something to
do with the local approach to the whole General Franco association but
Ferrol is very much a town that has possibly a schizophrenic approach to
itself and its history.
As a naval port, Ferrol lost
most of its influence (and Spanish fleet) in the peninsular war of the
early 1800's but it still retains quite some influence us fall as being
a port is concerned and evidence of the Spanish Navy can be found throughout
the town. Some of the ships in the ill fated Spanish Armada sailed from
Ferrol and some would say that the town suffered the same fate as the Armada.
Sadly as an area of quite
high unemployment many would view that Ferrol's greatest days are behind
it, however the streets around the harbour would tend to suggest otherwise.
One area of the town that is worth taking a look is the Magdalena district
which is home to the 18th Century Iglesia de San Xulian.
Sadly the outskirts of the
town have been described as some of most depressing urban landscapes in
all of Spain but don't let this distract you from visiting the city centre
is this still retains a certain charm.
Yes, the waterfront is mostly
dominated and taken out by naval buildings and dockyards but if you walk
along the waterfront you can get a good idea of just how large Ferrols
natural harbour actually is.
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Ferrol
Hotels
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| About the Author - Scott
James writes about a great many Internet Travel based issues and more on
the above can be found at Accommodation in Galicia . For a more complete
overlook at Tourism in Galicia try http://www.turgalicia.es |
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