Ferrol, a Galician city located in the province of A Coruña, is the starting point of the Camino de Santiago English from Ferrol. The surname “English” is due to the fact that it was the place, together with, to a lesser extent, A Coruña, where Scandinavian, Central European and English pilgrims arrived by sea to make their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in the Middle Ages. Media, from the 1147th century. It is believed that the first pilgrimage on this Camino took place in the year XNUMX.
City eminently linked, since its foundation, to activities related to the sea, which has determined its way of life, art, culture, social life, urban planning and industry. A relaxed stroll through its narrow and irregular medieval streets is worth it.
In its beginnings, the main activity of the city was the fishing industry. It was from the 1557th century (XNUMX), Felipe II reigned, when the growth of the city began, from the construction of military installations for the protection of the city, due to future attacks orchestrated mainly from England and France , who were the rival European powers of Spain.
As a result, three castles were built at the entrance to the estuary – San Felipe, (the most important, a Site of Cultural Interest), La Palma and San Martín-, which formed a triangle of defensive fire, impassable by sea. Over the centuries they underwent several renovations, which ended in the 1775th century (XNUMX). Today, the San Felipe Castle and the Castle of La Palma, but not that of San Martín.
As a result of the important naval and military presence in Ferrol, the activity related to the construction and maintenance of military and civil ships was consolidated, which is why today it has important naval shipyards.
The city was developing from the sea towards the interior. Initially, with humble houses for fishermen and sailors, with all the subsidiary infrastructure. As the main example, the Esteiro neighborhood was built, the first working-class neighborhood in Galicia, created for the workers who built the Arsenal, where the Casa del Patín and the old Hospital de la Marina survive, as examples of this.
Of special importance for the city, we must mention the Marquis of the Ensenada, who was Secretary of the Navy in the XNUMXth century and in whose mandate the Navy Arsenal was built, which led to growth, at all levels of Ferrol.
Another figure of special importance for the city, was Jorge Juan and Santacilia, who designed the Arsenal, where the Arms Room stands out, and the planning of the Magdalena District.
As the most relevant cultural and ornament elements of the city, we can also mention:
The San Roque Fountain: Located in the back of the San Francisco Church, it dates from 1784, being one of the emblems of the city, where the old Ferrol shield appears.
Jofre Theater: Opened in 1892, it is an emblematic place of the Ferrolana culture.
Church of San Julian dedicated to the patron saint of the city and dating from 1765 (Historic-Artistic Complex)
If we do this Camino de Santiago with organized trip we will find places like Neda, Puentedeume, Betanzos, Bruma, Sigueiro, among others. A our arrival in Santiago will give us “the famous Compostela” that accredits having walked at least the last 100 kilometers of the Camino de Santiago, which in the case of starting it from the town of Ferrol would be 121 kilometers. Other very popular itinerary alternatives to get La Compostela are mainly: the Camino de Santiago from Sarria el Portuguese Camino de Santiago from Tui.
