Province La Coruña

Province of La Coruña

The province of La Coruña is the north-western most province in Galicia and Spain surrounded to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean. La Coruña is the provincial capital of the province while it is Santiago de Compostela which is the Capital of Galicia. 

The province has one of the highest concentrations of population mainly confined to the towns and cities of La Coruña, Ferrol, Betanzos and Santiago de Compostela. It also has the largest stretch of coast. The estuaries and wild northern coastline which are known as the Rias Altas are relatively unexplored and its possible to encounter deserted, beautiful beaches and breathtaking coastal scenery. The northern coastline can be particularly dangerous waters for ships to navigate in so is referred to as the Coast of Death (Costa del Muerte).The weather in winter can be rough and rainfall levels high but the summer months are notably warmer than alot of Northern Europe. This part of coast stretches from La Coruña westwards to Noia including the western most place in Europe, Finisterre known in ancient times as the end of the world! Scattered along this stretch of coastline are small,pretty fishing villages such as Malpica, Corme ,Laxe, Camarinas, Muxia, Corcubion, Cee,Finisterre,O Pindo,Carnota, Muros and Noia which have preserved old traditions and where Galician (gallego) is widely spoken. 

Santiago de Compostela is the most important,tourist and historic city in Galicia and attracts over 80% of the tourists who visit Galicia each year. It's an UNESCO World Heritage Site given the immaculate state of conservation of the Old Town which contains a multitude of medieval churches, monasteries and other public buildings and was in 1998 a European City of Culture. Santiago Cathedral in the heart of the city and visible from many vantage points outside the city from far and wide is without doubt one of the great wonders of the world for historic, cultural, architectural, spiritual and many other reasons besides! Since medieval times it has been the end of the journey for pilgrims of St. James Way (el camino de Santiago). It's also home to one of the oldest and greatest Universities in Spain. The combination of tourists, pilgrims and students create a very vibrant and special atmosphere especially in the streets of the Old Town surrounding the Cathedral. The airport, Lavacolla is the largest and busiest in Galicia and Santiago is a major public transport transport hub.See also links to specific pages on Santiago de Compostela and St. James Way.

La Coruña is a thriving,modern city which has a great reputation of being a friendly city where the local people will always provide guests with a warm welcome. It's also one of the gastronomic hearts of the regions. It's the main preoccupation with all of its inhabitants blessed with such an impressive concentration of tapas bars and restaurants. There is really no better place in Galicia in which to eat especially shellfish and seafood. Alvedro Airport has international flights to destinations including London or via Madrid.

The province contains two important Natural Parks of nature conservation importance: the Fragas of the River Eume and Dunes of Correbedo.

The beaches near Ferrol are also superb especially Doninos,Esmelle and St. Georges Beaches where surfers from all over the world visit and where conditions are ideal for a range of other water sports. The series of rias from La Coruna to Ferrol form part of the Artabrian Gulf.

The province comprises of the following municipalities:

Abegondo, Ames, Aranga, Ares, Arteixo, Arzúa, A Baña, Bergondo, Betanzos, Boimorto, Boiro, Boqueixón, Brión, Cabana de Bergantiños, ·Cabanas, Camariñas, Cambre, A Capela, Carballo, Cariño, Carnota, Carral, Cedeira, Cee, Cerceda, Cerdido, Cesuras, Coirós, Corcubión, Coristanco, A Coruña, Culleredo, Curtis, Dodro, Dumbría, Fene, Ferrol, Fisterra, Frades, Irixoa, A Larach,A Laxe, Lousame, Malpica de Bergantiños, Mañón, Mazaricos, Melide, Mesía, Miño, Moeche, Monfero, Mugardos, Muros, Muxia, Narón, Neda, Negreira, Noia, Oleiros, Ordes, Oroso, Ortigueira, Outes, Oza dos Ríos, Paderne, Padrón, O Pino, A Pobra do Caramiñal, Ponteceso, Pontedeume, As Pontes de García, Rodríguez, Porto do Son, Rianxo, Ribeira, Rois, Sad,a San Sadurniño, Santa Comba, Santiago de Compostela, Santiso, Sobrado, As Somozas, Teo, Toques, Tordoia, Touro, Trazo, Val do Dubra, Valdoviño, Vedra, Vilarmaior, Vilasantar, Vimianz & Zas

La Coruña and Santiago de Compostela are featured in My Guide Galicia's current,recommended Top 10 places to visit in Galicia.