Ferrol

For other uses, see Ferrol (disambiguation).

Ferrol
Municipality
Ferrol natural harbour, the city is in the background to the right
Flag Coat of arms
Interactive map of Ferrol
Ferrol Location within Galicia Ferrol Location within Spain
Coordinates: 43°29′04″N 08°13′58″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	José Manuel Rey Varela (PPdeG-PP)
Area
• Total	82.65 km2 (31.91 sq mi)
Population  (2024)
• Total	64,358
• Density	778.7/km2 (2,017/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/

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Ferrol (Galician: [feˈrɔl] ^ⓘ, Spanish: [feˈrol] ^ⓘ) is a city in the province of A Coruña in the autonomous community of Galicia in Spain, located in the Rías Altas, in the vicinity of Strabo's Cape Nerium (modern-day Cape Prior). With a population of 64,358 as of 2024, Ferrol is the 7th-largest city 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 state-owned 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.