Tower of Hercules

Tower of Hercules has a focal height of 106 metres, a tower height of 55 metres and a range of 23 nautical miles.

Focal height: 106 metres
Tower height: 55 metres
Range: 23 nautical miles
Coordinates: 43.38583, -8.40639

The Tower of Hercules is a Roman lighthouse located on a peninsula in A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. It stands 55 meters tall and overlooks the North Atlantic coast of Spain. The tower was built in the 1st century AD and is the oldest known extant Roman lighthouse. It was renovated in 1791 and features a sculpture garden with works by Pablo Serrano and Francisco Leiro.

The Tower of Hercules has a rich history, with its design possibly based on the original plans of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The tower's base preserves a cornerstone with a Latin inscription, and it is believed to have been built or rebuilt under the Roman emperor Trajan. Until the 20th century, it was known as the Farum Brigantium, and its name is derived from the Greek word for lighthouse.

The Tower of Hercules is a National Monument of Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated as such in 2009. It attracts many visitors each year, with over 149,000 people visiting the site in 2009. The tower is also the second-tallest lighthouse in Spain, after the Faro de Chipiona. Its location and historical significance make it an important landmark in northwestern Spain.

Light and tower

It lies on the Atlantic. The light has a focal height of 106 metres. The light has a range of 23 nautical miles.

Videos

Spain's Tower of Hercules — The World's Oldest Lighthouse Still in Use

"Tower of Hercules" _ Oldest Functional Roman Lighthouse _ A Coruña, SPAIN 2025

Details

Range Nm: 23
Year Built: ~110
Description: The '''Tower of Hercules''' (, ) is the oldest known extant Roman lighthouse. Built in the 1st century, the tower is located on a peninsula about from the center of A Coruña, Galicia, in northwestern Spain. Until the 20th century, it was known as the '''Farum Brigantium'''. The Latin word ''farum'' is derived from the Greek Φάρος, ''Pharos'', for the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The structure stands tall and overlooks the North Atlantic coast of Spain. The tower was renovated in 1791.
Body Of Water: Atlantic
Focal Height M: 106
Tower Height M: 55