A Coruña, the city of glass

A Coruña is also called the "city of glass" due to the distinctive glass-enclosed balconies, known as galerias that adorn many of its buildings, particularly at the harbor front. These glass-enclosed balconies reflect the sunlight and have led to the city being described as the glass or crystal city.

Galicia has a wealth of buildings featuring most of the architectural styles found in Europe ranging from neo-classical and baroque to Romanesque and renaissance. But the region also has a particular approach to constructing balconies and A Coruña must be the number one regional city when it comes to these design features.

A galeria is a balcony, but one that is enclosed in a glass frame, and serve as protective spaces from the elements, allowing residents to enjoy the outdoors while being shielded from rain and strong winds during Galicia's relatively cool winters. Galerias are built at first floor level, or on the six floor of a six storey building and there are many variances on the basic design. The houses with galerias on Marina Avenue which overlooks the bay of A Coruña were occupied by the fishermen in the old days.

The reason galerias are so prevalent and significant in A Coruña is two fold. Firstly, unlike Galicia's other provincial capitols, a large part of the city is 'modernist' and was built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries – the galeria design was especially popular during this period. Secondly, the original fisherman's houses (that lined the harbor and port) were built with galerias and subsequent structures that replaced, or were added to them continued this style.

The prevalence of these galerias on the coastal side of Galicia, particularly in A Coruña, can be attributed to the region's climate and cultural influences. Galicia is known for its green, wooded valleys, wild beaches, and a coastline that spans over 1,660 kilometers. The climate in this region is characterized by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean which brings about mild temperatures and high levels of humidity.

The presence of these galerias may also be influenced by the region's architectural traditions, which have been shaped by a mix of Spanish and Celtic heritage.

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