CORUETA, kt)-ri/nyft. A fortified seaport of Spain, capital of the province of the same name, in Galicia, situated on a small headland in the Atlantic, formed by the three bays of Betan zos, Coruna, and El Ferrol; 315 miles northwest of Madrid (Map: Spain, A 1). It is built partly on the slope and partly at the foot of It bill and is divided into the upper and lower towns, the former being the most ancient. The lower town, which was formerly an insignificant fishing vil lage, is now more important, is well built, with streets broad and well paved. The ancient section, which is partly surrounded by the old walls, contains the more prominent edifices, though there are comparatively few public build ings of note in Co•ufia. The churches of Santiago and Santa :Marfa del Campo, of the twelfth cen tury; the barracks, the Capitania-General, and the modern Military Hospital of San Carlos, are worthy of mention. The provincial institute has a considerable library and valuable scientific col lections, and the city contains also a meteoro logical observatory, and various educational in stitutions, including a marine school. Other features of interest are the grave of Sir John .
Moore (q.v.) , with a monument in the garden of San Carlos, and the so-called Torre de Her cules, of doubtful Phnnician origin, having been built more probably in the time of Tratjan, which has served as a lighthouse for more than a century. The harbor, protected by five forts, two of which, San Centdn and Santa Cruz, de fend the entrance, is safe and commodious. Co runa is the centre of an extensive commerce. the exports comprising live stock, fruits, vegetables, wine, hams, sardines, leather, peat, etc., while
the principal imports are sugar, hides, coal, oil, and manufactured articles. There is also an im portant coastwise trade. The city has a variety of manufactures. cigars, linen goods, canvas, cordage. lumber, barrels, paper. etc., and many of the inhabitants are employed in the fisheries. Population. in 1897, 40.500; in 1000, 44.057.
Probably from early times a fishing. village, Coruna may have been colonized by the Phmni cians. Its chronicled history dates from the Roman In the Middle Ages it 'was called Caronium. It. was part of the emirate of Cordova for some time. and suffered severely, with the rest of Galicia, in the reconquest. The Portuguese captured the town in 1370. Here John of Gaunt landed in 1386, to urge the claims of his wife to the Castilian crown, and in 1554 Philip 11. sailed from the port to marry Queen Mary of England. Coruna was the point of de parture of the Invincible Armada' in 1688, and in the following year it was taken by Drake and Norris, and nearly destroyed. Th, harbor was the scene of English naval victories in 1747 and 1805. Cornfia is famous for the repulse, on Janu ary 16, 1809, of the French under :Marshal Soult, by Sir John Moore, who succeeded, with an inferior force, in withstanding the French at tempt to stop the English embarkation, but lust his life in the battle. The engagement took place on the heights of Elvifia. In 1823 the city fell into the hands of the French. It was visited by an epidemic of cholera in 1851.