Ferrol (for Santiago de Compostela), Spain
Founded in the Middle Ages on a natural harbour, Ferrol has been one of Spain's major naval bases and dockyards since the 18th century.
The deep-draught estuary of Ferrol was easy to defend with its narrow mouth surrounded by mountains. During the reign of King Felipe II, the estuary was used as an anchorage by the Armada, and fortifications were built.
From the 1730s, seven coastal batteries were installed and two castles (San Felipe and La Palma) built on either side of the narrowest point of the mouth, where ships had to enter in single file. This made the estuary impregnable. Ferrol was also the birthplace of General Franco.
The city centre was modelled on Lisbon in Portugal and is made up of a rectangle of six parallel streets, with nine others running across and two squares on each side. These squares hold all the city’s shops, restaurants, bars, cafes and excellent galleries.
Below are examples of excursions that have previously been offered from this port of call. A fully detailed programme of the included and optional tours available during your cruise will be sent shortly before your departure.
Betanzos and Puentedeume
Your coach will drive you along the estuary road, heading for the hilltop town of Betanzos, one of the capitals of the Old Galician Kingdom, which was declared a historical and artistic monument in 1970.
On a walking tour through the narrow streets of this medieval town, passing lovely old houses and pretty Gothic churches, the graceful 18th-century town hall, you will admire the stone masons' work and the glass-enclosed facades along the way.
The walk will take you to the 14th-century Gothic monastery church of San Francisco, where you will see the tomb of medieval knight Fernan Perez de Andrade, whose family were the overlords of the region for centuries.
From Betanzos, you will continue by coach to Pontedeume, a pretty fishing village with narrow, winding streets and a vast medieval bridge. Here you will see the Tower of Andrade, once property of the Counts of Andrade.
Optional excursion
Duration: 3½ hours
Panoramic Ferrol
Leaving Spirit of Adventure, your first sight on entering Ferrol is the Navy camp, which separates the city from the sea.
Opposite is the neo-classical quarter built in the 18th century for naval officers and which is similar in design and style to Lisbon, on which it was modelled. The university complex is also in this area, which was once the artisans’ quarter and contains several examples of neo-classical buildings.
You will tour the new and old parts of the city, ending up at a Parador for a coffee break, where you will have time to enjoy the splendid views over the estuary, the camps and the Spirit of Adventure and the other ships in port before returning to the ship.
Included excursion
1 ½ hours
Spirit of Santiago
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia, Spain’s greenest region, and is also one of the country's most important sites for pilgrims.
What began as a simple 9th-century chapel built in the name of St James the Apostle has grown into Europe’s most important shrine after St Peter’s in Rome. With its twin baroque towers soaring high above Obradoiro Square, this monument to the saint is a truly magnificent sight and its interior remains as it was in medieval times.
You will learn about its history and see such sights as the Jubilee Door during a guided tour, and will also have time at leisure to wander around Obradoiro Square and beyond, admiring the city's many beautiful historic buildings.
Included excursion
Duration: 6 hours
Tapas in Galicia
The coach will first take you on a panoramic tour of the city of La Coruna. On the way you will see the tiers of glass-enclosed balconies on the buildings opposite the harbour that led La Coruna to be given the name of ‘The Crystal city’.
Long ago the sea was closer to the city and the glass reflected the sunlight on the surface of the sea. On the promenade - the longest in Europe - that surrounds the city, you will pass the Castle of San Anton, built on an island.
You then arrive at the Hercules Tower. This beacon built by the Romans is the only lighthouse of its kind in the world still used for its original purpose.
The tour continues on to Pazo de Mariñan, an old Galician Manor where you will visit the splendid French style gardens, with the oldest eucalypts in Galicia brought from Australia in the 18th century.
From here you will go to a restaurant alongside the estuary to enjoy wines from Galicia and typical tapas snacks.
Optional excursion
Duration: 4 ½ hours