A Coruña (previously also known in English as Corunna; Galician A Coruña, Spanish La Coruña) is a Galician city, in northwestern Spain. It is the capital of A Coruña province.
As of the 2003 census, the population of the city of A Coruña was 243,902, and the population of the entire urban area was estimated in 2003 at 388,692 inhabitants. It is a busy port on the Atlantic Ocean and provides a distribution point for agricultural goods from the region. Its industry is also based on shipyards, metalworks, oil refinery, glass and ceramic plants. It is also a center for ocean-going fishing.
The city is the site of the Roman Torre de Hércules, which is now a lighthouse. The city is well-known for its characteristic glazed window balconies, called miradores.
During the Middle Ages, the city was an important port and center for manufacturing of textiles. In 1588, the Spanish Armada sailed from its harbor. In 1598, the city was sacked by an English fleet under Francis Drake. In 1809, it was the site of battle during the Peninsular War in 16 January 1809, to cover embarkation of British troops after their retreating and in which Sir John Moore was killed. During the 19th century, the city was the center of antimonarchist sentiment.
There have been various changes in the city's structure over the last few decades - it now shares some administrative functions and is less of a military centre. Companies have grown, especially in certain subsectors such as finance, communication, layout and sales, manufacturing, technical services and the port itself (it is the largest in Europe in terms of fresh fish unloaded), with the increase in other port activities like crude oil and solid bulk, making up 75% of Galician port traffic.
The city has been relaunched over the past few years with better access, an improved cultural, sporting, leisure and scientific infrastructure, a better framework, the recovery of the shoreline and the strengthening of the tourist sector. All this has reaffirmed the city's existing character as a centre for administration, sales, port activities, culture and tourism.
The city has a football club in Spain's top division, Deportivo de La Coruña (note that the club name still uses the Spanish spelling).
