Plaza de María Pita
Plaza de María Pita features on the Gingerguide audio walk through A Coruña. Give it roughly ~45 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type square
- Suggested visit ~45 min
- A Coruña A Coruña guide
About Plaza de María Pita
The grand central square of A Coruña, dominated by the Neo-Baroque City Hall (1927) with its distinctive towers, named after the local heroine María Pita who defended the city against Francis Drake's attack in 1589.
The Plaza de María Pita is the heart of A Coruña, the main square where the city's civic life concentrates, surrounded by the arcaded buildings characteristic of the Galician city and dominated by the Neo-Baroque City Hall (Concello de A Coruña), built in 1927. In the centre of the square stands a large bronze statue of María Pita, the city's heroine: a washerwoman who became famous for rallying the defenders of A Coruña during Francis Drake's English attack of 1589, reportedly killing the English standard-bearer herself when he planted his flag on the city walls. The square is the venue for A Coruña's major civic events, including the carnival celebrations (one of the most important in Galicia), political demonstrations, and the summer markets. The arcaded ground floors of the surrounding buildings shelter cafés, restaurants, and shops. The square's name was given in honour of María Pita only in 1887, before that it was called the Plaza Real.
Did you know? Francis Drake's 1589 attack on A Coruña was one of his most significant failures, he spent two weeks besieging the city, failed to take it, and lost hundreds of men to disease and combat before withdrawing. The 'English Counter-Armada' of 1589 was a catastrophic defeat that cost England far more in ships and men than the Spanish Armada had cost Spain.
How long is a visit to Plaza de María Pita?
Set aside roughly ~45 min for Plaza de María Pita. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Plaza de María Pita worth your time?
Plaza de María Pita is among the 12 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for A Coruña, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in A Coruña
Hear the story of Plaza de María Pita
Preview the A Coruña tour free in the Gingerguide app.