The Parador of Ferrol was very comfortable but best of all was the view from the bedroom.
The Parador
The Parador is a Galician mansion, with enclosed balconies and elegant interiors. Sadly/stupidly I did not take many photographs of the interior, with its several seating areas, bar, dining room and many pictures and naval artifacts. This is just a taste, with views of our bedroom, and the little upstairs sitting area.
The Church of San Francisco
The 18th century Church of San Francisco backs on to the Parador, and on one side is a separate chapel, which I didn’t visit. It stands on the site of a former 14th century Convent and was buit without towers to not interfere with navigation – or so it is conjectured. When church property was seized in the 19th century this church was handed to the navy.
Another view of the church, with the Parador jutting out in the distance, and the gardens overlooking the Arsenal.
The San Francisco Gardens were neat and colourful – and there was no litter!
The Herrera Gardens are a continuation of the San Francisco Gardens and are situated between the Parador and the Captaincy Palace. It includes the Churruca Obelisk, “erected in memory of Brigadier Cosme Churruca who died at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) when he was in charge of the ship San Juan Nepomuceno.”1
The Plaza Eduardo Pondal
Eduardo Pondal (1835-1917) was a Spanish poet who wrote in Galegan, and the square in front of the Captaincy Palace, next to the Parador, is named after him. This pretty square is in front of the Captaincy Palace, but the trees are so large and dense it was impossible to photograph the front of the building.
There is just a glimpse fo the Palace from the Herrera Gardens – the white building.
Nighttime
The Parador in Ferrol was a super place to stay – I feel we only caught a very small understanding of hat Ferrol offers during our days there. And the information provided on Ferrol was good.2
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