Ferrol
Ferrol was a small fishing port until the Spanish monarchy transformed it into a major naval base and shipbuilding centre during the 18th century. The new arsenal and royal shipyards brought rapid population growth, and naval engineers laid out A Magdalena as a geometric Enlightenment-era district beside them.
From the Middle Ages, Ferrol was also one of the Galician ports used by pilgrims arriving by sea from the British Isles and northern Europe on their way to Santiago. That tradition survives in the Camino Inglés, whose modern route begins at the Porto de Curuxeiras.
The Camino Inglés begins at the Porto de Curuxeiras, where the starting marker stands beside the harbour. You can obtain a credencial at the tourism and pilgrim office nearby. Make sure to collect at least two stamps per day during the final 100 km to Santiago de Compostela.
What to see in Ferrol
Las Meninas de Canido
Artist Eduardo Hermida began painting interpretations of Velázquez's Las Meninas around Canido in 2008 as an attempt to revive a neighbourhood affected by abandonment and decline. The project expanded into an annual street-art event, and hundreds of artists have since covered the neighbourhood with their own versions of the painting.
Where to stay in Ferrol
