The restoration of the Hercules Tower of La Coruña-Galicia-España

Abstract

According to the legend, Hercules built this Tower to commemorate his victory over the Giant Gerion, laying its foundations of top of the Giant's bones. The "Hercules Tower is actually a lighthouse built by the Romans between the I and II centuries D.C.. In 1791, the Roman structure, which had lost the whole of its exterior facade and the ramp that used to surround it, was reconstructed. It was covered with a masonry veneer thus reproducing, with neoclassical stylistic elements, the form" of the Roman Lighthouse. The work we present here consisted of the following: developing of the planimetry with the ground photographic mapmaking; the identification of the Roman walls and their transformations; the archaeological excavations; the restoration of the walls and new bronze carpentry; the restoration of this neoclassical work eliminating and relocating the modern semi-detached dwellings; the transfer of the installations to permit the visit of the Roman areas which were adequately illuminated; new handrail and bronze locks; and the rehabilitation of the surroundings of the monument with the "archaeological park" with all necessary services.