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If you’re planning to walk the Camino de Santiago via the English Way, starting in El Ferrol gives you the opportunity to discover historical treasures before setting off. One of these must-visit places is the <\/span>San Felipe Castle<\/b>, a coastal fortress brimming with history that offers spectacular views of the Ferrol estuary. <\/span><\/p>\n Whether you’re undertaking the pilgrimage alone or opting for an organized <\/span>Camino de Santiago guided tour<\/b><\/a>, visiting it will add a unique cultural context to your journey. Below, we present the history of this imposing structure, tips for visiting it, and take the opportunity to compare the English Way with other prominent Camino routes.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n San Felipe Castle, located at the entrance to the Ferrol estuary, is the <\/span>most important military structure<\/b> in this city. <\/span><\/p>\n Its origins date back to the <\/span>reign of Philip II<\/b>: the fortress began construction in 1557 under his patronage, which is why it bears his name. However, the structure we see today mainly dates from the <\/span>18th century<\/b>, when it was extensively remodeled and expanded, with major work completed in 1775. <\/span><\/p>\n This renovation was carried out by engineer Francisco Montaig\u00fa, who applied modern fortification techniques inspired by those of the French Vauban. The result was a <\/span>notable example of a bastioned battery<\/b>, with cannon batteries facing the sea and defensive bastions to protect the landward flanks. Thanks to this design, it could repel both maritime and land attacks with great effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n Its strategic location was key to making the estuary an impregnable port. It was part of the \u201c<\/span>fire triangle<\/b>\u201d alongside the Castillo de La Palma (on the opposite bank in Mugardos) and the now-destroyed Castillo de San Marti\u00f1o. Together, the three forts covered the entire entrance to the estuary with their artillery, so no enemy power ever dared to attack this naval base directly. <\/span><\/p>\n In fact, at night, a massive <\/span>iron chain<\/b> was stretched between San Felipe and La Palma to block the entry of unwanted ships. This defense was so famous that the English admiral <\/span>Sir Pitt<\/b> is quoted saying: <\/span>\u201cIf Britain had an estuary like this, with its castles, they would protect it with a silver wall\u201d<\/span><\/i>, referring to how no effort would be sufficient to safeguard a location of such strategic value.<\/span><\/p>\n For centuries, the castle <\/span>protected the vital arsenal and shipyards<\/b> of Ferrol, from where many Spanish navy warships set sail. Even after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, some ships managed to take refuge in the estuary, further highlighting the need to fortify it. <\/span><\/p>\n Today, it stands as a <\/span>living witness to military history<\/b>. Although it no longer serves a defensive purpose, it continues to impress with the magnitude of its walls and the beauty of its natural setting. The fortress is integrated into the coastal landscape, surrounded by forests and beaches, and is under <\/span>constant restoration<\/b>, meaning some areas may be adapted for tourism purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Visiting San Felipe Castle is a <\/span>highly recommended activity before starting the English Way<\/b> from Ferrol. Not only will you appreciate its historical value, but you’ll also begin your pilgrimage with a greater connection to the Galician land and its heritage. Here is some practical information to help you plan your visit:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Spending about two hours exploring the Castillo de San Felipe will give you a different perspective before starting your pilgrimage. In addition to the photographic postcards you can take, you\u2019ll gain a better understanding of Ferrol\u2019s maritime and military importance, the city that marks the starting point of your pilgrimage.<\/span><\/p>\n After the visit, you can return to Ferrol to <\/span>stamp your pilgrim passport at the Tourist Office<\/b> or at the <\/span>Concatedral de San Juli\u00e1n<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ferrol is recognised as the main starting point of the Camino Ingl\u00e9s. This historic port city provides the perfect setting to begin the Jacobean adventure. It combines its military and naval past with hospitality for pilgrims, offering services and attractions worth exploring before setting off.<\/span><\/p>\n As a city with a maritime and military tradition, Ferrol boasts iconic places that, like the Castillo de San Felipe, you can visit if you have extra time. These include, for example:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n From the <\/span>Curuxeiras Dock<\/b>, the Camino Ingl\u00e9s officially begins. Traditionally, pilgrims from northern Europe (British, Irish, Scandinavians, etc.) would arrive by boat at this port and then walk to Santiago.<\/span><\/p>\n Today, the <\/span>Camino Ingl\u00e9s from Ferrol<\/b><\/a> consists of <\/span>5 well-defined stages<\/b> covering just over <\/span>100 km<\/b> to Compostela. The early stages are characterised by the blue of the coastal landscape of the R\u00edas Altas, followed by the green of the valleys and forests inland. One important practical aspect is that Ferrol guarantees the minimum number of kilometres needed to obtain the Compostela.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s worth mentioning that the <\/span>Camino Ingl\u00e9s has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years<\/b>. After the pandemic hiatus, this short route has become very attractive for those with less time or who seek a less crowded experience. In 2024, it reached a historic record with <\/span>28,058 pilgrims<\/b> completing the route, making it <\/span>the fourth most popular Jacobean route<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n This growth, a <\/span>16% increase compared to the previous year<\/b>, confirms the upward trend of the route. Moreover, more and more <\/span>international pilgrims<\/b> are taking it \u2013 in 2024, nearly half of the walkers were from abroad, with notable numbers of Italians, Portuguese, British, and Americans, among others.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is just one of the several historic routes leading to Santiago de Compostela. Each Jacobean route has its own charm, mileage, and popularity. Unlike other longer paths, this one is <\/span>relatively short<\/b> (about 118 km) and runs entirely through Galicia. Therefore, it\u2019s ideal for those looking for a pilgrimage of less than a week\u2019s duration.<\/span><\/p>\n However, if you have more time or are curious to compare experiences, it\u2019s worth learning about the features of the other main routes. Here\u2019s a brief overview of the most notable ones:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As we can see, the Camino Ingl\u00e9s offers a different experience compared to the other routes: shorter in distance but equally rich in coastal and rural landscapes, with the added value of starting in Galicia from the first kilometre.<\/span><\/p>\n It shares with other routes the spirit of camaraderie among pilgrims. However, it provides a very marked local flavour (as it runs entirely through Galicia) and a special connection to maritime history, highlighted by sites like the Castillo de San Felipe in Ferrol.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you’re planning to walk the Camino de Santiago via the English Way, starting in El Ferrol gives you the opportunity to discover historical treasures before setting off. One of these must-visit places is the San Felipe Castle, a coastal fortress brimming with history that offers spectacular views of the Ferrol estuary. Whether you’re undertaking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":123955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[538,541,536,534],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-123963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-historia-en","category-sitios-iconicos-en","category-camino-a-pie-en","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123963"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123963\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":123995,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123963\/revisions\/123995"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mundiplus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}History and Features of San Felipe Castle<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nTips for Visiting San Felipe Castle<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Ferrol, Starting Point of the Camino Ingl\u00e9s<\/b><\/h2>\n
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The Camino Ingl\u00e9s and Other Camino de Santiago Routes<\/b><\/h3>\n
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