Constructive and Historical Analysis of the Tower of Hercules: Ancient Roman Lighthouse Still in Use

Abstract

The Tower of Hercules, called the Brigantia Lighthouse until the 20th century (after the old name of La Coruña, Brigantium), was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2009. The Tower of Hercules, a symbol of the city of A Corua where it stands, is said to be the sole remaining Roman lighthouse in existence. It still serves the same purpose it did in antiquity—warning ships today, in the twenty-first century. Furthermore, it is a paradigmatic case of architectural intervention in an ancient monument: in the 18th century, the Spanish engineer Eustaquio Giannini restored the tower, applying scientific criteria and maintaining the authenticity of the monument. For all these reasons, the Tower of Hercules is an exceptional benchmark through which the development and evolution of the different signaling and navigation aid systems can be studied from the beginning of our era to the present day. For all these reasons as well, in this chapter of the book a descriptive analysis of the monument is carried out, from a historical perspective and especially from a constructive perspective.