Making the most of Ferrol
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
A spectacular 200 metre-wide estuary mouth protects the inlet and leaves a strong impression on those who navigate it. Beyond a narrow canal between steep hillsides, with the castles of San Felipe and la Palma at their foot, the estuary opens into calm water around Ferrol’s Port.
The dock stands in the center of town.
Ferrol, or El Ferrol, is an Atlantic-coast city in Galicia's province of A Coruña, in north-western Spain.
Spanish General Francisco Franco was born in the city in 1892.
The town is perhaps best known for its spectacular Easter week celebrations, when its maritime and military traditions appear in street processions of saintly statues, drums and bands. Archaeology enthusiasts can explore evidence of prehistoric settlement, including burial chambers, megalithic monuments, Petroglyphs and other finds. The Ancient Greeks are also well documented, as is first-century Roman evidence. The beginning of the new millennium, however, has been a time of…
Nearby places
Ferrol begins The English Way, one of the routes to Santiago. For centuries, pilgrims from around the world have set out here for Compostela. Nearby is Fragas de Eume natural park, one of the last Atlantic Woodland examples, where rich greenery conceals a Benedictine monastery founded in 10th century.
17th Century Castles: as the Spanish Navy's main 17th-century base, Ferrol gained several fortresses and castles, including Castle of San Felipe, La Palma and the Naval Arsenal.
San Andres de Teixido lies further north along the coast by Europe's highest cliffs. It is a fishermen’s pilgrimage place and Galicia's second most important pilgrim site after Santiago.
Money
The currency is the euro.
A euro has 100 cents. The eight coins are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, plus 1 and 2 Euro; the seven bank notes are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euro.
Staying connected
Spanish is the official language across the national territory, although other languages coexist in some regions: Catalan in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia, Euskera/Basque in the Basque Country, Valencian in the Valencia Region and a particular Catalan variety on the Balearic Islands.
Emergency number: dial 112 free of charge throughout Spain. The service operates in Spanish and, in some tourist areas, English, French and German.
Opening Hours and
The usual opening pattern for shops and businesses is Monday through Saturday, from 9.30 h to 13.30 h and 16.30 to 20.00 h.
Large shopping centers and department stores generally open continuously from 10.00 h to 21.00 or 22.00 h, sometimes also on Sunday.
In coastal cities during high season, shops usually remain open past 22.00 h.
Pharmacies operate from 9.30 to 13.30 h and 16.30 to 20.00 h. Major cities have 24-hour pharmacies. A rotating late-hour timetable is printed in newspapers and displayed at all pharmacies.