La Torre de Hércules sirve como faro y emblema de la entrada al puerto de La Coruña (noroeste) desde el siglo I de nuestra era, cuando los romanos lo construyeron con el nombre de Farum Brigantium. Este faro monumental de 55 metros está edificado sobre una roca que de 57 metros de altura. La torre consta de tres niveles que se van estrechando hacia la cúspide y el primero de ellos corresponde a la estructura del faro romano. Adyacente a su base, se halla un pequeño edificio romano de forma rectangular. El sitio comprende también los petroglifos del Monte dos Bicos que datan de la Edad de Hierro, un cementerio musulmán y un parque de esculturas. Los cimientos romanos del faro se pusieron al descubierto durante una serie de excavaciones arqueológicas llevadas a cabo en el decenio de 1990. Desde la Edad Media hasta el siglo XIX, numerosas leyendas han ido jalonando la historia de la Torre de Hércules. Es el único faro de la Antigüedad grecorromana que ha conservado en cierta medida su integridad estructural y que sigue desempeñando la misma función.

Valor universal excepcional en inglés

Brief Synthesis The Tower of Hercules is the only fully preserved Roman lighthouse that is still used for maritime signaling, hence it is testimony to the elaborate system of navigation in antiquity and it provides an understanding of the Atlantic sea route in Western Europe. The Tower of Hercules was restored in the 18th century in an exemplary manner, which has protected the central core of the original Roman monument while restoring its technical functions. Criterion (iii): The Tower of Hercules is testimony to the use of lighthouses in antiquity. The Tower is also proof of the continuity of the Atlantic route from when it was first organised by the Romans, during a large part of the Middle Ages, and through to its considerable development in the modern and contemporary eras. Integrity and Authenticity The architectural integrity of the property, in the sense of a structurally complete building, and its functional integrity are satisfactory. While the authenticity of the central Roman core is certain, the authenticity of the building only makes sense when judged from the point of view of a technological property that has required numerous renovations and functional adaptations. Management and protection requirements The conservation of the property is monitored to a good scientific level. In the final analysis, all the measures and projects presented form an acceptable management plan. The role of the Tower Management Plan Monitoring Committee needs to be upgraded by virtue of its being the coordinating authority for the management of the property.