Tower of Hercules

The Tower of Hercules (Galician: Torre de Hércules, Spanish: Torre de Hércules) is an ancient Roman lighthouse in A Coruña, Galicia, Spain, overlooking the Atlantic coast. It is the only fully preserved Roman lighthouse still used for maritime signalling. Built in the late 1st century, the tower is located on a peninsula about 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from the centre of A Coruña, Galicia, in northwestern Spain. Until the 20th century, it was known as the Farum Brigantium. The Latin word farum is derived from the Greek Φάρος, Pharos, for the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt. The tower was renovated in the 18th century and stands 55 metres (180 ft) tall, comprising 34 metres (112 ft) of surviving Roman masonry and 21 metres (69 ft) added during the restoration. There is a sculpture garden on the grounds of the lighthouse featuring works by Pablo Serrano and Francisco Leiro. The Tower of Hercules is a National Monument of Spain and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 27 June 2009. It is the second-tallest lighthouse in Spain, after the Faro de Chipiona.