Hidden Legends and Forgotten Whispers of A Coruña
A Coruña isn’t only a windy port at the edge of the Atlantic — it’s a city of ghosts, sailors, and salt-soaked memories. While most visitors stop at the Tower of Hercules, the locals know that the real A Coruña hides behind its narrow stone streets and the endless sound of waves that never sleep.
1. The Mermaid of the Old Harbour
Old fishermen say that before dawn, when the sea turns silver, a mermaid appears near the Dársena (the old port). She’s said to hum an ancient Galician song that no one can fully remember. Those who’ve heard it swear it brings both peace and sorrow — as if the ocean itself were remembering a lost love.
2. The Tower That Never Sleeps
The Tower of Hercules, the city’s famous lighthouse, is much older than the Romans who rebuilt it. Galician legend tells that Hercules buried the head of a giant he defeated under the tower’s foundations. On stormy nights, people claim the ground still trembles with his restless spirit.
3. The Secret Tunnel Beneath San Antón Castle
Locals whisper about an underwater passage connecting San Antón Castle to the mainland, built centuries ago to smuggle gold and fugitives. Some divers say the tunnel still exists — though it’s filled with dark waters and the echo of chains.
4. The Lost Bells of Riazor
Long before the modern beach promenade existed, there was a tiny chapel near the shore. When a great storm swallowed it, the bells were said to have sunk into the sand. Every year, during the fiercest storms, people claim to hear their muffled chime under the waves.
5. The City of Glass
The seaside promenade lined with white gallery balconies is often called “La Ciudad de Cristal” — the City of Glass. But few know the origin of the name: sailors once used the glass fronts to read wind direction from reflections of the waves. The city itself was like a giant compass made of light.
6. The Wind Has a Name
In A Coruña, the Atlantic wind is not just weather — it’s a companion. Locals call it el nordés, the north-easterly breath that shapes the city’s mood. Artists say that when nordés blows, the city wakes up in poetry, but when it sleeps, melancholy reigns.
“I walked by the glass balconies and felt the mermaid’s song behind the wind”
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