The rocky hill on which the Tower of Hercules sits is called Punta Eiras. It was built in the middle of the first century BC between the reigns of Nero and Vespasian and its architect was Cayo Servio Lupo, a native of Coimbra.
Although its current aspect is far from that of its origin, it is the only Roman lighthouse that fulfills its function from its origins to the present time serving as a maritime signal and instrument of navigation for the boats that cross the Atlantic corridor. Considered in its origins as a beacon and watchtower to mark the entrance to the port and save the dangerous rocks of the area known as "Pedras do Boi".
It was and is object of interest and study by archaeologists and architects in order to clarify and establish the original appearance and its operation as well as the evolution of the construction and lighting system.
With the decadence of the Roman Empire its conservation deteriorated remarkably and during the Average Age they were times of abandonment, plundering and ruin.
At the beginning of the sixteenth century the interest for its recovery was born again but it did not undergo major changes until the end of the 17th century with the intervention of the Duke of Uceda. This interest will not decay until the current aspect is formed, although the process was slow.
Thus in the eighteenth century the engineer Eustaquio Giannini was in charge of the project of rectification of the tower doing an impeccable work in the interpretation and use of the documents that existed to establish the aspect of the same.
In June 1847, the new light of the work carried out by Jose Giannini in the lantern with a range of 20 miles is lit.
Already in the twentieth century improvements were increased and under the supervision of the engineer Salvador López Miño recovers the interior eliminating the wallpaper nineteenth century and also improves the lighting system under the supervision of the engineer Rafael de la Cerda, so that in 1927 enters In service the electric lighting.
The rehabilitation works continued in the years 1990 and 1992 carried out by the architect Pablo de la Torre and the archaeologist Luis Caballero.
The end achieved with the various projects that were undertaken throughout its long history is evidenced in the declaration of the Tower of Hercules as a World Heritage Site.
Curiosities, myths and legends
The Norwegian merchant "Rytterholm" was shipwrecked at the entrance to the A Coruña estuary on 12 October 1976. Today it is one of the most visited wrecks by divers.
The wreck is known as "The Chinese" as a tribute to the only sailor who died in the sinking, the cook, Chinese nationality who refused to leave the boat.
It is submerged to 31 m depth and the hull broken in 3 pieces.
Their stays have an acceptable state of preservation.
