A Coruña is an ocean of sensations that can only be enjoyed by those who come to the city. The waves of the Atlantic, the heartbeat of the streets, the exquisite and unsurpassable cuisine, the maritime taste of the city in itself ... A Coruña is made to live, touch, look, taste, enjoy, discover and feel. A Coruña is the destination for everyone who is searching for their way. The city is the perfect place for families and couples thanks to all the leisure events on offer. A Coruña is in itself an invitation to live the city. “A Coruña, Taste me ...”

Travelling to A Coruña means having a date with the sea. The Promenade at over 13 kilometers is the longest in Europe and goes round the city via beaches, coves and cliffs that you can enjoy on foot. Over two kilometers of beaches right in the heart of the city let you enjoy sun and sport. We would recommend using the Tourist Tram and enjoying the route all along the coastline. The visual reward for those who decide to walk around this huge viewpoint over the Atlantic is enormous, as A Coruña boasts various beaches that lie all round the Promenade. The essential ones are Orzán, ideal for surfing, and Riazor, both in the city centre.

Even though the sea is essential, A Coruña also has parks, gardens and squares that are real jewels to just sit down in and enjoy. The Mirador de San Pedro with its panoramic lift is something you just can’t afford to miss if you want to see the little peninsula the city lies on from a privileged watchtower. The Old City, the name given to the historic quarter of A Coruña, is a special place to go back in history and evoke medieval times in its narrow streets and little squares. The Avenida de la Marina is a classic vision of the city with its balconies of glass and wood, a beautiful example of Galician architecture.

A Coruña enjoys good communications both nationally and internationally, thanks to the airport just 15 minutes from the city centre. There are direct flights from Alvedro to Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia, Lisbon and London, and starting in March 2011 there will also be flights to Amsterdam and Paris.

Apart from the airport, A Coruña boasts a Transatlantic dock in the heart of the city, with a new passenger terminal built to adapt the facilities to new port safety regulations and the needs arising from the growing number of liners coming to the city. In recent years A Coruña has seen more and more cruise passengers and forecasts for 2011 point towards over 100,000 passengers from 84 stopovers.

A Coruña is one with the Atlantic Ocean. Everything in the city, from its special light in both summer and winter to its daily heartbeat is marked by the intensity of the ocean, present in all areas.

A Coruña, live me…With a population of 400,000 people in the metropolitan area, A Coruña is a city for services that centralises the social and economic activity of the north of Galicia. Its textile industry is one of the most thriving sectors in the north-west of Spain. A Coruña is home to fashion company Zara, and currently the headquarters of the Inditex group, which implies a significant boost for the city’s economy.

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The Science Museum is another essential visit. Situated in Santa Margarita Park (one of the city’s green lungs), it is a perfect place to go with children and enjoy a walk before visiting exhibitions about the latest in science and physics experiments. The Planetarium is another of the attractions at the Science Museum.

Right in the city centre it would be unforgiveable not to go to the Barrié de La Maza Foundation (wwww.fbarrie.org) and the Caixa Galicia Foundation (wwww.fundacioncaixagalicia.org), which apart from their interesting permanent collections also host significant travelling exhibitions. No art lover can miss these two centres, where artists of all renown and disciplines have exhibited. The two buildings, located on one of the busiest streets in the city, are architecturally relevant and should be seen. Apart from its museums and foundations, A Coruña boasts many other cultural attractions.

The Tourism Office of A Coruña has a free Guided Visit programme which will take you round the scuplture park at the foot of the Tower of Hercules and the Old City.

The Scientific Museums: Domus, Aquarium and Science Museum (wwww.casaciencias.org) are the fundamental points for museum visits in A Coruña. All three are interactive and their motto is “Please do touch”.

Not only is the Domus the world’s first interactive museum about human beings, but it also has added architectural value as it was designed by prestigious Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. The design evokes a huge unfurled sail in the inmensity of the ocean. The museum stands out on and embellishes the city’s sea front.

The Aquarium Finisterrae holds all the specialities of the Galician coastline in a museum. Right by the ocean, the building itself is a privileged place to see a beautiful show on stormy days.

A Coruña, touch me…Not only is A Coruña one with the Atlantic, but it also boasts an intense cultural activity all year round. Museums, cinemas, foundations that hold significant collections, both permanent and temporary, art galleries and cultural centres make up a broad network – the city’s cultural backbone.

WWW.casaciencias.org

fbarrie.orgfundacioncaixagalicia.org

The windowed balconies are a mirror for the daylight from dawn to dusk, and have led to the city’s being called the Glass City. Opposite the Marina is another traditional image – the harbour where old fishing boats are moored.

Just a stone’s throw away from the Marina is the Old City, a fundamental visit in A Coruña. Walking through its streets takes us back in history to the varied rhythms of a Medieval and Baroque city’s heartbeat. From elevated places like the romantic gardens of San Carlos the views over the port and bay are truly magnificent. Antique shops coexist in the Old City with charming taverns and restaurants.

The Tower of Hercules, a world heritage site since 2009, is the oldest Roman lighthouse in the world and the only one still working (wwww.torredeherculesacoruna.com). It was built towards the end of the first century AD and the beginning of the second to guide ships on their way to the British Isles in search of tin, iron and copper. The Tower has always been a reference point for sailors.

A Coruña, look at me…Looking is essential in A Coruña. It is always recommended to have your sense of sight alert in the city. The Avenida de la Marina is the largest glass site in the world and one of the city’s symbolic images. Last century the sea used to come right up to these old fishermen’s homes, today marvellous houses that make up a photograph of the beauty of A Coruña.

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For those who prefer a table and tablecloth to taverns and bars, A Coruña boasts exquisite restaurants with Michelin stars. The best raw materials make dishes to delight the most demanding palates.

A Coruña does not fall behind when it comes to desserts either. Pancakes and local cheese are the icing on the cake for any menu, no matter how simple or sophisticated. A Coruña holds the annual Dona Emilia Sweet Tooth Competition, a dessert competition for both bakeries and restaurants. The sweetest reason to discover the city’s desserts, from the most traditional to the avant-garde (www.larpeiradasdonaemilila.com).

Once your date with the city’s food has come to an end, a good idea is to go for a drink in one of the following areas: Monte Alto, an alternative and fun atmosphere in a popular zone, Plaza de Lugo-Juan Flórez, with more traditional bars, the Old City and Orzán, the pub area par excellence in A Coruña, where fun is always guaranteed. Matogrande is a new area that is taking its place in the city’s nights thanks to its great variety of bars.

In the popular wine zones you can practice one of the best local ways of relaxing: tapas. From restaurants to taverns and bars exquisite products, prepared with great care to seduce the most demanding palates in a colourful atmosphere. The most typical tapas in A Coruña are octopus, squid, scallops, prawns, shrimps, pork, empanada and omelette. Other essential dishes are Galician broth, shoulder of pork with turnip greens and stew.

Numerous bars and restaurants in A Coruña take part in the Picadillo Tapas Competition (www.tapaspicadillo.com). You can try all the tapas in the competition over a period of several months, combining quality, tradition and creativity.

The streets known as Wine Streets are the best way of trying the city’s essence. The streets near the Plaza de María Pita (Barrera, Troncoso, Franja, Olmos, Estrella, Galera) are full of traditional taverns and bars, where you can try the most representative and delicious Galician cuisine. Wandering around these streets is a good way of soaking up the atmosphere, eating and drinking at very affordable prices.

A Coruña, taste me…Visiting A Coruña is a date with Galician cuisine. The offer in the city is immense. Seafood, meat and fish; local cheese and wine; exquisite products for all budgets. The Plazas de Abastos are an inevitable visit where the sea’s products make up an incomparable show.

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Among them is the Casa del Agua (www.termaria.es), one of Europe’s largest water centres and a thalassotherapy circuit that was named the best in Spain in 2007.

A Coruña also has a bicycle renting system – the ideal way to discover the city on two wheels. The bicycle lane on the promenade is a good alternative to bear in mind when planning what to do with your leisure time. Wandering round the Old City or along the numerous routes at the foot of the Tower of Hercules and all round the coast is another attractive possibility for enjoying the city in a more relaxing way.

A Coruña, enjoy me…Leisure in A Coruña is an ocean of possibilities, from all kinds of sport (sailing, surfing, diving, horse riding, golf…) to a thermal circuit in one of the city’s spas.

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There are plenty of shops in A Coruña, from the more traditional handicraft stores to the most modern and sophisticated - Plaza de Lugo, Juan Flórez, Soho …

The Calle Real is one of the most emblematic shopping areas, where you can find all kinds of souvenirs and fashion stores. The perfect excuse not just to shop but also to have a look and see what they have. The Old City is the ideal place for antique lovers. If you prefer more practical shopping, you can go to the modern shopping centres with all the main brands. The city also boasts specialised stores with the major international brands - shopping in A Coruña is a great way of enjoying a wonderful day out.

A Coruña, discover me…A Coruña is the perfect place to go shopping. Small and medium sized shops are an essential part of the city’s economic fabric. Shopping in the different neighbourhoods is part of A Coruña’s idiosyncracy. Window shopping or going in to just “have a look” is another of the city’s daily pleasures.

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If cultural activity in the city never stops, summer in A Coruña is a real gala. Midsummer Night on 23 June is the starting signal for the summer programme, characterised by frenetic activity in the months of July and August. The Midsummer Night bonfires, an event declared of National Tourism Interest, is one of the city’s most traditional and magical events. The beaches are filled with hundreds of bonfires and thousands of people. The María Pita events in August, in addition to concerts all over the city – with festivals on the beach – include a multitude of alternatives. In the summer months, the Medieval Market, the Book Fair, the Art Fair, the Comic Festival and the Handicraft Fair are just some of the main events – although the major attraction in the summer is possibly the atmosphere in every street in the city.

The Singular Stop Fashion Festival (www.singularstop.com) and the Pedro Barrié de la Maza Foundation Jazz Festival are both held in April and May - an essential event in the city’s cultural calendar, with concerts by relevant figures on the international jazz panorama. The Mozart Festival is a prestigious event among lovers of classical music (wwww.festivalmozart.com).

Since 2010 A Coruña, together with Barcelona, has been the capital of electronic music with SONAR, the country’s largest electronic music festival (www.galicia.sonar.es). From September to November, Expocoruña, a multipurpose and avant-garde centre, hosts Move, an electronic music and digital art festival. Move has become an essential date for the coolest people in the city. The Old City in Concert, the Opera Festival and the 981 Festival (www.981festival.com) are other events that make autumn in A Coruña that much more pleasant.

A Coruña, feel me…One of the things that characterises A Coruña’s cultural programme is that it covers the whole year. Carnivals in A Coruña – especially the Entroido – is one of the most popular and enjoyable events at the beginning of the year.

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PALEXCO (www.palexco.com) was the first congress centre in Galicia to win the “Q” for Tourist Quality distinction and boasts a privileged location in the heart of the city, opposite the Transatlantic dock, and 13 rooms for over 3,000 people. EXPOCoruña (www.expocoruna.com) has become a benchmark in trade fair and event programmes in the north-west of the peninsula. A multipurpose space covering over 25,000 square metres, EXPOCoruña is the best showcase for all kinds of varied and avant-garde events, from trade fairs to shows and music festivals.

Apart from these major sites, A Coruña has other unique spaces like the Domus and the Aquarium for product presentations and business dinners. There are also stately homes in the city’s surroundings, ideal for this kind of events.

A Coruña,meet me…A Coruña is the ideal city to hold congresses and work meetings. PALEXCO and EXPOCoruña are the perfect settings for conventions, business meetings, company trips and other major events.

palexco.com

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press contact

victoria

A Coruña, get to know us….The Tourism Office of A Coruña is an entity made up by the City Council of A Coruña, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Port Authority. Its goal is to make tourism one of the city’s economic driving forces.

The Tourism Office of A Coruña’s goals are to promote and advertise the city both domestically and internationally, putting together an annual action plan inlcuding the presence of general and specialised mass media, going to domestic and international tourism fairs and organising orientation trips for agents to discover what is on offer.

The Tourism Office of A Coruña has a Central Office, two information points – one in the city centre in the Plaza de María Pita and another at the Tower of Hercules – and a Cruise Liner Attention Point. 619

804 810

victoriacastrolopez

@gmail.com

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A Coruña, statistics…Turism Data 2005 - 2010

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CONGRESSES, CONVENTIONS AND MEETINGS

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

No. OF MEETINGS 100 113 129 130 106 99

No. OF DELEGATES 45.410 46.030 39.915 53.531 40.300 40.535

HOTEL OCCUPATION AND TOURISTS LODGED

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

% OCCUPATION 54,38 55,88 59,84 60,45 55,83 59,51

No. OF TOURISTS 473.107 486.158 520.585 525.243 483.184 593.794

CRUISERS LINERS STOPOVERS AND PASSENGERS

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

No. OF STOPOVERS 73 71 60 60 58 62

NO. OF PASSENGERS 45.945 48.499 56.813 57.500 53.574 70.698

C/ Sol · Edificio Sol, s/n · 15003 · A Coruña · EspañaTel.+34 981 184 344 · Fax +34 981 184 345

www.turismocoruna.com