Ferrol, Spain
Ferrol | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
Ferrol natural harbour, the city is in the background to the right | |
Location of Ferrol | |
| Coordinates: 43°29′04″N 08°13′58″W / 43.48444°N 8.23278°W | |
| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous Community | Galicia |
| Province | A Coruña |
| Comarca | Ferrol |
| Fishing Village | 1st century BC |
| Christian Outpost | 8th century |
| Royal Arsenal | 16th century |
| Royal Dockyard | 18th century |
| Parishes | Brión, A Cabana, Covas, Doniños, Esmelle, Ferrol, A Graña, Leixa, Mandiá, Marmancón, A Mariña, Trasancos, Serantes |
| Government | |
| • Type | Elected city council that chooses a mayor amongst their members. |
| • Body | Concello de Ferrol |
| • Mayor | Ángel Mato Escalona (PSdeG-PSOE) |
| Area | |
• Total | 81.9 km2 (31.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2018) | |
• Total | 66,799 |
| • Density | 820/km2 (2,100/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | ferrolan (m), ferrolana (f) |
| Time zone | CET (GMT +1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (GMT +2) |
| Postcode | 15401–15406 |
| Area code | +34 981 |
| Website | http://www.ferrol.gal/ |
Ferrol (Galician: [feˈrɔl] ⓘ, Spanish: [feˈrol] ⓘ) is a city in the province of A Coruña in Galicia, Spain, located in the Rías Altas, in the vicinity of Strabo's Cape Nerium (modern-day Cape Prior). According to the 2021 census, the city had a population of 64,785, making it the seventh-largest settlement in Galicia. With Eume to the south and Ortegal to the north, Ferrol forms the comarca of Ferrolterra.
Around a hundred years ago, and earlier, the harbour, with its depth, capacity and overall safety, had few equals in Europe; its entrance was very narrow, commanded by forts, and could even be shut by a boom.
Ferrol has been a major naval shipbuilding centre for most of its history, being the capital of the Spanish Navy's Maritime Department of the North since the time of the early Bourbons. In the 17th century, Ferrol held the largest arsenal in Europe. Today, the city contains several major shipbuilding yards belonging to the Navantia Group.
Ferrol was the birthplace of the dictator Francisco Franco in 1892. The municipality was officially named after him as "El Ferrol del Caudillo" from September 1938 to December 1982. It was also the birthplace of the founder of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), Pablo Iglesias, in 1850.
Ferrol is one of the starting points of the English Way of the Camino de Santiago. Due to the modern requirement that pilgrims must travel 100 km (approx. 62 mi) by foot in order to be officially recognised, the city is a preferential starting point for those traversing the English Way.