The Tower of Hercules is an active lighthouse in the northern part of the city of La Coruña (Galicia, Spain).The name Tower of Hercules originated from a legend that told of the Greek hero Hercules, who during his tenth feat fought the giant Herion for three consecutive days and defeated him. In honour of this great victory, Heracles built a tower and brought people from Galatia to live there. This legend was told in Spain during the 19th and 20th centuries, which is why the lighthouse was named "Tower of Hercules".
The lighthouse was built during the Roman Empire and is considered the oldest lighthouse in the world and the only Roman lighthouse in use. The Tower of Hercules is 55 metres high and stands on a peninsula whose rocky shore rises 57 metres above the waters of Betanzos Bay of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Tower of Hercules is a monument of national importance. And was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009. The site also includes: a small ancient Roman structure standing directly next to the tower, a sculpture park, Iron Age rock paintings at Monte dos Bicos, and a Muslim cemetery.
