A Coruña (redirected from Coruña)

A Coruña (ä kōr`nyä), formerly La Coruña (lä kōr`nyä), city (1990 pop. 256,579), capital of A Coruña prov., NW Spain, in Galicia. It is a busy Atlantic port, a distribution center for the surrounding farm area, and a summer resort spot. It has shipyards, metalworks, an oil refinery, glass and ceramic plants, and an important fishing industry.

A Coruña reached its height as a port and a textile center in the late Middle Ages. The Armada sailed from its harbor in 1588. The city was sacked by Sir Francis Drake in 1598. In the Peninsular War it was the scene of the battle (1809) in which Sir John Moore was killed. The city was a focus of antimonarchist sentiment during the 19th cent.

Chief landmarks are a 13th-century church and the Roman Torre de Hércules, now a lighthouse. Glazed window balconies, or miradores, are characteristic of A Coruña. It is the site of an arsenal and army garrison. The city is also spelled Corunna.

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A Coruña

 Spanish La Coruña

City (pop., 2003 est.: 243,902), northwestern Spain. A seaport on the Atlantic Ocean, it is believed to antedate Roman times. A point of departure for the Spanish Armada in 1588, it was sacked by Sir Francis Drake in 1589. In the Peninsular War, it was the site of a notable victory by the English over the French. It is now a large fishing centre and one of northern Spain's most important shipping ports.