Casa das Palabras

Casa das Palabras is a small yet striking site near the Tower of Hercules in A Coruña — a former military cemetery that, after decades of neglect, was transformed into a space dedicated to language and cultural memory.

Where does the name come from?

The building was constructed between 1936 and 1937, in the early months of the Spanish Civil War, in the area between Adormideras and Punta Herminia, right next to the Tower of Hercules. This modest compound, covering roughly 170 square meters, served as a cemetery for soldiers of Maghrebi origin who fought on the Nationalist side as part of units from the Moroccan Protectorate. Generals Antonio Aranda and Luis Lombarte are said to have promoted its construction. In Spanish, the site is still sometimes referred to as Cementerio Moro, the "Moorish Cemetery."

What happened to the soldiers buried there?

The remains of the buried soldiers were later transferred to the San Amaro cemetery in A Coruña, where a commemorative plaque can still be seen today. In 1957, part of the remains were repatriated. Once its original function ended, the building stood abandoned for decades and suffered vandalism.

How did a former cemetery become Casa das Palabras?

The turning point came in 2006, when the A Coruña city council, which had taken possession of the former military site, decided to rehabilitate it as part of the area surrounding the Tower of Hercules, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project was carried out with support from Spain's Ministry of Culture, which contributed 180,000 euros. The site was reimagined as a meeting point between cultures — hence the name Casa das Palabras, meaning "House of Words."

What can visitors see inside today?

The interior walls of the former cemetery now feature engravings by artist Xoán Viqueira. They display texts about the origins of the city of A Coruña written in Greek, Latin, Arabic, Old Irish (Gaelic), and Old Castilian, alongside translations into Galician and Spanish. The site also presents 250 words in Galician and Spanish that trace their origin back to Arabic — making it a quiet tribute to the region's multilingual and multicultural linguistic roots.

Why is it worth a visit?

Casa das Palabras brings together a difficult wartime history with a message of intercultural dialogue. It is an intimate, quiet space that invites reflection, offering a striking contrast to the monumental and widely visited Tower of Hercules standing right beside it. For visitors interested in 20th-century history, multilingualism, or the Arabic influence on the languages of the Iberian Peninsula, it is an unusual and worthwhile stop on the map of A Coruña.

Frequently asked questions

What was the Casa das Palabras building originally used for? It was a military cemetery built between 1936 and 1937 for soldiers of Maghrebi origin who fought in the Spanish Civil War on the Nationalist side.

When was the site transformed into Casa das Palabras? The rehabilitation took place in 2006, with financial support from Spain's Ministry of Culture.

What can be found inside today? Engravings featuring texts about the history of A Coruña in several ancient languages, along with a list of 250 Galician and Spanish words of Arabic origin.

Where exactly is Casa das Palabras located? Right next to the Tower of Hercules, in the Adormideras area of A Coruña.