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Street · A Coruña, Galicia
Avenida da Mariña
Seafront avenue with the long row of white gallery façades from the 19th and 20th centuries, which gave A Coruña the nickname 'city of glass'.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Avenida da Mariña
Avenida da Mariña runs along the port of A Coruña, between the Pescaría shopping center and the Cidade Velha. Its image is the city's best-known: a long row of buildings with glass-gallery façades, white frames, covering several floors.
The galleries appeared in the 18th and 19th centuries, when residents enclosed the balconies facing the port with glass to protect themselves from wind and rain and to enjoy the sun. The solution spread along the Galician coast, but in A Coruña it reached this scale, and sailors began to call the city the city of crystal for the way the façades shine in the sun.
In front of the avenue are the Jardines de Méndez Núñez and the marina, and the avenue is one of the city's main promenades. At the end it reaches the plaza de María Pita and the Cidade Velha.
The best way to see the galleries is from the port side, looking at the full façades head-on.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 40 minutes.
Best time
In the late afternoon, when the sun hits the glass galleries.
How to get there
It's in the center, on the waterfront, about a 5-minute walk from the plaza de María Pita.
Tip
Cross to the port side and look at the façades head-on: only from there can you see the entire row of galleries.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Avenida da Mariña
What are the galerías da Mariña?
Enclosed balconies with glass and white frames that cover the facades of buildings facing the port.
Why is A Coruña called the crystal city?
Because of the shine of the glass galleries on the avenida da Mariña when seen from the sea.
Where is the avenida da Mariña?
In the centre, on the harbour edge, between the Pescaría and the praça de María Pita.