Playa de Oza, Urban beach in A Coruña, Spain

Playa de Oza is an urban beach on Spain's northern coast with fine golden sand backed by the city. The beach stretches roughly 110 meters in length with a width of about 25 meters.

Playa de Oza was built in 1994 near the old Praia de Oza, also called Praia de Lazareto after a nearby leprosarium. Most of that older beach was destroyed under Franco's dictatorship to build a shipyard, despite residents' opposition. The new beach later lost more ground to a promenade, and in 2001 a toxic sludge deposit buried beneath a land reclamation for a yacht club sparked protests by locals and shellfish gatherers.

The beach is named after the Oza neighbourhood, and its predecessor was called Lazareto after the leprosarium that stood beside it. The old beach was lost to a shipyard under Franco's dictatorship despite residents' opposition; locals and shellfish gatherers later protested the toxic sludge dump buried under the 2001 land reclamation where the nautical club now stands.

The beach sits close to the city center and is easily reached on foot or by public transport. You will find restaurants and parking nearby for visitors.

The beach was built in 1994 beside the vanished Praia de Oza, also called Praia de Lazareto after the leprosarium that stood above it. Most of that older beach was destroyed under Franco's dictatorship to make way for a shipyard, despite residents' opposition.