Ferrol

Ferrol is a city and municipality in the province of A Coruña, within the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. It lies on the Atlantic coast at the head of the Ferrol estuary in the Ría de Ferrol and is part of the region known as Ferrolterra. The municipality has about 70,000 residents and forms a significant urban and industrial center in northwestern Galicia.

Ferrol has a historic naval and shipbuilding tradition that dates to the 18th century, when the Bourbon monarchy established major shipyards and a military arsenal to support the Spanish Navy. The city grew around its port and, in modern times, the shipbuilding industry has continued through Navantia, the state‑owned company that evolved from earlier yards. The port also accommodates fishing and commercial activity and serves as a naval base for the Spanish Navy.

Notable features of Ferrol include the fortress of San Felipe, which guards the harbor, and an urban core built as a planned naval city in the 18th and 19th centuries. The area’s architecture and public squares reflect its military and maritime origins, with several churches and promenades lining the waterfront.

Ferrol is connected by road and rail to A Coruña and other parts of Galicia, supporting both local life and regional commerce. The port and the shipbuilding facilities remain central to the city’s economy, while the area also hosts cultural institutions, museums, and events that reflect its maritime heritage.