Castillo de San Antón

Castillo de San Antón - Diego Delso Wikicommons

Galicia is one of the most magical and mysterious autonomous communities in Spain. It has countless mythological characters, legends, places and natural scenery that together give the region a unique personality. Santiago de Compostela is the capital and the key city for pilgrims traveling through the Camino de Santiago, but it is formed by four provinces among which we discover A Coruña and its rich culture, historical route, heritage and all kinds of tourist attractions. 

The origins of A Coruña date back to Roman times, and fortunately today there are still remains such as the Castro de Elviña or the Tower of Hercules. However, in the municipality you can also discover other equally important constructions for the history of Galicia, such as the castle of San Antón and its relevance in defending the city more than five centuries ago.

In the Museum of the Castle of San Antón you can visit the rooms of the monument.

The Castle of San Antón is a building dating from the 16th century that belonged, together with the Castle of Santa Cruz and the Castle of San Diego, to a strategic network of castles and towers to defend A Coruña. The construction is considered a Historic-Artistic Monument and a Property of Cultural Interest not only for its purpose of defending the city from attacks from the sea, but also for its architectural value in history. 

Although the castle was unfinished, in an attack by the English Navy the monument made an effective contribution to the defense of A Coruña. After the attack, its construction continued until the completion of the project in 1590. From the 17th century onwards the fortress was transformed into a prison and maintained this function until it was ceded to the City Council in 1960. Eight years later the Archaeological and Historical Museum of La Coruña was inaugurated, where you can visit pieces of prehistory and ancient history, medieval sculptures that have to do with the dungeons and outbuildings of the soldiers of the castle and the history of this emblematic destination.