AUGUST 2016 : SPAIN : CAMINO INGLÉS : Ferrol

          

Today we left A Coruña and headed east to Ferrol.

      

                                                          An hour on the bus.

                                      

                 Ferrol turned out to be a much larger town than expected. 65,000 people. 

        

                A modern busy town with all facilities. Good retail, restaurants and beaches.

        

First stop was Tourist Information who had some helpful tips for our day here as well as two excellent English guidebooks for our walk this week. Ferrol became an important entry point for pilgrims in the 14th century when England and France were fighting the 100 years war and the land route was dangerous. English pilgrims began sailing by boat and walking to Santiago from northern coastal towns.

                                       

                                    

       

                                        Formal gateway to the port, Porto do Dique.

      

 Ferrol was the port where the Spanish Armada sailed from. So it has long Naval history. It is now the major Naval base on the northern coast. The Arsenal was built from 1750-1775.

      

        Attractive buildings along the waterfront.

                                             

                       The fortress of San Xoán. This formed part of the old defensive wall around the city.

                                          

                                              Pleasure craft.

                                     

                                       

  

At the Tourist Office they suggested we find the starting point for the Camino at the port, walking the first kilometre today, so that we can begin from the centre of town tomorrow.

                                         

      

                    We followed the first markers past historical sites, important to the route.

        

            The Church of San Francisco. Built in the 18th century over a medieval church.

        

                              It is famous for its neoclassic altarpiece by Xosé Ferreiro.

       

         The old hospital de Caridad, built in 1760 to shelter the sick, the poor and the pilgrims.

         

                       The Concathedral of San Julián built in 1763 by Sánchez Bort.

     

         The Town Hall.

                                       

A statue relating to a 17th century religious tradition where hooded men from local brotherhoods parade to a drum beat to the cathedrals on Good Friday as a symbol of their penitence. Although banned now, in some parts of the country the ritual also included self-flagellation.

        

            Lots of cafes in the narrow streets.

                                        

                                            A Portuguese bakery

      

        Artwork in the park

         

           Some clever pieces on abandoned buildings

                                      

                                          Our hostal in the middle of town.

      

           15 euros pp.

        

          View over the harbour.

M&M