La Tour d’Hercule sert de phare et de repère terrestre à l’entrée du port de La Corogne, au nord-ouest de l’Espagne, depuis la fin du 1er siècle après J.C., date à laquelle les Romains construisirent le Farum Brigantium. La Tour,construite sur un rocher représentant déjà une altitude de 57 m, atteint les 55m, dont 34 correspondent à la structure du phare romain et 21 à la restauration dirigée par l’architecte Eustaquio Giannini au XVIIIe siècle et qui ajouta à la structure romaine deux formes octogonales. A la base, se trouve un petit bâtiment romain rectangulaire. Le site comporte aussi un parc de sculptures, ainsi que les pétroglyphes du Monte dos Bicos datant de l’âge du Fer et un cimetière musulman. Les fondations romaines du phare ont été dégagées lors de fouilles menées dans les années 1990. De nombreuses légendes accompagnent l’histoire de la Tour du Moyen Age au XIXe siècle. C’est le seul cas de phare de l’Antiquité gréco-romaine véritablement conservé et toujours en activité.

Valeur universelle exceptionnelle en anglais

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.