Its construction began to take shape at the beginning of the 60s of the 19th century and started in 1872 after the different procedures and negotiations carried out by a group of Ferrol citizens with the collaboration of the city council and the Navy, who ceded the necessary land. But it would take another twenty years for the project to be fully realised. The aim of its promoters was to respond to the demand for a large reference space for theatrical performances in the city that had arisen after the destruction of the Casa-Teatro Settaro in a fire in 1807. That loss had only been partially solved with the conversion of a warehouse into the Teatro Principal, which operated until the end of the 19th century.

The architect Faustino Domínguez Domínguez was the first to be commissioned to design the new theatre, although it was his son, Faustino Domínguez Coumes Gay, who was responsible for the final design, inspired by Italian Baroque theatres. This is demonstrated both by the decoration of its three floors and the characteristic horseshoe shape of its stalls, a layout designed to optimise acoustics, as can still be seen today by those who make use of this facility converted into a multi-purpose space capable of hosting anything from a theatrical performance to a concert, including magic, monologues or children’s shows. 

But the process of building the theatre was not easy and before it became a reality it had to overcome several setbacks. The main obstacle was the lack of funds to complete the works, a problem which meant that the work had to be stopped, but which was also the reason why the venue was christened with the name by which it is still known today. As happened with many other projects carried out in Galicia at that time and in the following decades, the solution came from the other side of the Atlantic and from the hand of emigrants who had been forced to leave their homeland to carve out a future for themselves. 

In this case it was Joaquín Jofre y Maristany, a Ferrol emigrant in Buenos Aires, who responded to the call of the promoters of the new theatre by making a significant financial contribution in exchange for a package of shares in the company set up to carry out the project. That injection of money allowed the works to be resumed and finally made it possible for the Teatro Jofre to raise its curtain on 19 May 1892 to host its first performance.

Calderón de la Barca’s classic “El alcalde de Zalamea” (The mayor of Zalamea) was the play chosen for that inaugural session, which was performed by Antonio Vico’s company. The programme for that day also included Vital Aza’s comedy “El sueño dorado” (Golden dream). The press of the time highlighted in their chronicles the beautiful ornamentation created by the stage painter Jorge Bussato, the seven medallions with portraits of Wagner, Calderón de la Barca, Moratín, Tirso de Molina, Lope de Vega, Rossini and Meyerbeer, a recreation of the firmament with figures representing the different stage genres, the portrait of Joaquín Jofre, the gas lighting and the mechanism that allowed the floor of the hall to be raised to the height of the stage. In addition, the newspapers reported the enormous expectation that the inauguration of the theatre had aroused, causing queues at the box office in the previous days and attracting audiences from A Coruña.

A few years after that evening, the theatre was converted into a cinema, and at the beginning of the 20th century, specifically in 1919, another key event in the theatre’s history took place: its sale to Isaac Fraga Penedo. The businessman and film producer, who also owned cinemas and theatres in Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Ourense, Lugo and Pontevedra, Vilagarcía de Arousa and Monforte de Lemos, decided to renovate the appearance of the Ferrol venue and for this purpose he commissioned the construction of a new façade to the architect Rodolfo Ucha Piñeiro, one of the main representatives of modernism in Galicia. The ornamentation of Ucha’s façade, inaugurated in 1921, with floral motifs and masks representing comedy and tragedy, and its arched portico enhanced the building as a whole and made it an architectural landmark in the city, although later alterations to the interior did remove some of the valuable examples of its original ornamentation.

It was used as a cinema for several decades and after its closure it was acquired by the city council of Ferrol in the 90s of the last century to refurbish it and put it back into use. It was not an easy process, but finally the Teatro Jofre was reopened in 2005 opening a new stage of splendour that still continues today.

Viveiro

This town in the Lugo region of A Mariña boasts a Holy Week that has been declared a festival of international tourist interest and stands out, among other reasons, for the artistic value of its images, some of which are articulated. The “Paso” of the Supper, created at the beginning of the 19th century by a craftsman using local sailors as models to shape the figures of the Apostles, is more than two hundred years old. The processions of the Last Supper, The Arrest, The Encounter and The Holy Burial are some of the most emotional and colourful of its usual calendar. This year it will not be possible to enjoy them in the street to avoid crowds, but worship will continue in the churches and exhibitions and virtual activities will be organised.

More information at http://semanasantaviveiro.com/

Ferrol

Since 2014, Easter Week in Ferrol has also been recognised as a festival of international tourist interest. From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, the five brotherhoods of the city organise a total of 24 processions that fill the streets of Ferrol with fervour and colour. The main events take place between the neighbourhoods of Esteiro and A Magdalena on Wednesday, Thursday and Good Friday. This year, these processions will be replaced by alternative events, which will take place in the headquarters of each Easter brotherhood and in the Angustias, Amboage and Contralmirante Azarola Gresillón squares, respecting the sanitary measures and the capacity restrictions established by the authorities.

More information at http://www.semanasantaferrol.org/

Santiago de Compostela

The streets of the city of the Apostle are the unbeatable setting for the development of a Holy Week of regional tourist interest that has undergone an intense revitalisation in recent years, as demonstrated by the fact that Compostela now has more than a dozen brotherhoods. Its members are responsible for organising the 17 processions which recreate the main episodes of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The events planned for this occasion will take place between 26 March and 11 April, although the processions will also be dispensed with in order to avoid the health risks associated with crowds of people. Instead, the activities organised by the confraternities will be moved to their own headquarters and other enclosed spaces where capacity can be controlled and health measures can be complied with.

More information at https://www.semanasantasantiago.es/es/inicio/

Fisterra

The traditional festivities of Easter Week in Fisterra, also declared a festivity of Galician tourist interest, add a singular recreation in this town of the Costa da Morte that year after year congregates thousands of people, becoming the main event of its extensive programme. It takes place on Easter Sunday and the locals themselves are responsible for bringing to life the protagonists of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As last year, the promoters of the activities have had to cancel the processions and the aforementioned representation, but the liturgical acts planned inside the parish church of Santa María das Areas are maintained, and to avoid that the capacity limitations prevent the faithful and the curious from taking part, the Xunta de Confrarías da Semana Santa de Fisterra will broadcast them live through its space on Facebook.

More information at https://www.facebook.com/semanasanta.fisterra/

Lugo

The celebration of alternative activities centred on the processions that should take place every day is the idea on which those in charge of the board of brotherhoods of Lugo are working to keep Holy Week alive in the city of the wall, a festival also of regional interest. Thus, the neighbours will not be able to see the procession of the Holy Sacrament (a singular event linked to the privilege that the Cathedral enjoys to exhibit it permanently) nor the colourful encounter between Jesus Christ and the Virgin, but they will be able to join, with the consequent capacity limitations, the events that will be organised on special days such as Palm Sunday, and Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. 

More information at http://www.semanasantadelugo.com/es/noticias

Mondoñedo

The processions that take place from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday make Holy Week one of the main festivities in the Mondoñedo calendar and have led to it also being considered a festival of tourist interest in Galicia. Its origins date back to at least the 16th century, and although on this occasion the locals will not be able to take to the streets to attend these acts of great fervour and solemnity, they will be able to go to the monumental cathedral to follow the different masses planned throughout this festive cycle. 

More information at https://www.facebook.com/turismomondonedo

Betanzos

Declared of regional tourist interest in 2017, the Holy Week of Betanzos stands out especially for the processions of Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, being the one popularly known as Os Caladiños the most famous of them all. For the second consecutive year, the streets will not be the scene of the traditional route of the “pasos” and the brotherhoods and Nazarenes, but the liturgical acts will keep their spirit alive and the social networks will contribute to their promotion as it happened a year ago, when they were broadcast through the YouTube channel of the Pastoral Unit of Betanzos.

More information at https://www.facebook.com/semanasantabetanzos

Cangas

The artistic value of its “pasos”, some of them articulated to give more realism to the celebration, its antiquity and its roots make the Holy Week of Cangas one of the most outstanding in the province of Pontevedra and also allowed it to be declared of tourist interest in Galicia. Some of its brotherhoods were founded three centuries ago and their work has contributed to the fact that processions such as the Holy Supper, the Denial of St. Peter or the Holy Meeting attract large crowds. None of them will go out this year, but some liturgical acts are maintained and brotherhoods such as the Hermandad de los Dolores y la Soledad encourage residents to decorate their balconies with commemorative flags.

More information at https://cangas.gal/es/areas/turismo/fiestas-y-festivales/semana-santa

Paradela (Meis)

The involvement of the entire parish of Paradela, in the municipality of Meis, Pontevedra, has made its Easter Week one of the most outstanding in Galicia and therefore also of regional tourist interest. The locals themselves become actors for a few days to give life to the main characters of the central episodes of the biblical story: the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the arrest of Christ, the trial, the Stations of the Cross…. All of these are re-enactments which, like a year ago, will fall out of the programme of activities on this occasion due to the covid restrictions, although the brotherhood will probably once again take advantage of social networks to organise a Virtual Holy Week.

More information at http://bit.ly/SemanaSantaParadela

La Magdalena Neighborhood

This neighborhood, whose construction plan was approved in 1761 by Carlos III, is the starting point of the current Ferrol. Its rationalist design, located between the medieval part of the city and the working class neighborhood of Esteiro and developed in parallel with the new shipyards, was marked by its geometric layout and the introduction, already at the beginning of the 19th century, of constructive and decorative solutions that would later extend to other places in Galicia. This is the case with the glass galleries on the facades of the houses that can still be seen today on Magdalena and Real streets.

San Felipe Castle

Although the origins of this coastal fortress date back to the times of Felipe II as part of a defensive network also comprising the castles of La Palma and San Martín (in Mugardos), the current image of the Castle of San Felipe is mainly due to the work undertaken in the eighteenth century. Its position allowed it to control access to the interior of the estuary.

Captain’s Palace

The former official residence of the Captain General of the Cantabrian Area occupies a prominent place in the district of La Magdalena and currently serves as a stage for cultural and representative acts of the Navy. Buildings were added to the original 18th century building in the two centuries that followed, but in addition to its sober architecture, the place stands out for its gardens and the views it offers of the estuary.

Military Arsenal

Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, the Ferrol Military Arsenal combines in its design the functionality of its nature with the monumentality of its representative character, which reaches its maximum expression in the Puerta del Dique. In its interior is the one that was once the most modern shipyard in Europe, as well as buildings of historical and architectural importance such as the Weapons Room, also known as the training barracks, and in which its great staircase stands out.

Naval Museums

Two museums reflect the close relationship that Ferrol has maintained for much of its history with the world of the sea. The Naval Museum, located in the former prison of San Campio and belonging to the Ministry of Defense, shows one of the most important collections of anchors in the world, as well as a variety of nautical instruments and remains of various boats. In the old smithy of the Navy is the Naval Construction Museum, a facility managed by the Exponav Foundation. Its collection is one of the most important in Europe, but the architecture of the 18th century industrial building is already worth a visit on its own. 

Dolores Barracks

Built in 1771, the current headquarters of the Tercio Norte de Infantería is the oldest barracks in Spain and is also considered an Asset of Cultural Interest. Its main facade and the porticoed weapons courtyard on its first two floors are its most outstanding elements. In addition, at the back are the remains of one of the three doors to the sea of the old city wall.

Curuxeiras Pier and San Xoán Bastion

Now converted into a space for nautical tourism, the Curuxeiras Pier was the traditional landing place for pilgrims who arrived in Galicia in the Middle Ages with the intention of heading to Santiago de Compostela on the English Way. In the vicinity stands the San Xoán Bastion, which used to be part of the city walls and now serves as a lookout point.

Alameda de Suances

This green area that serves as a link between the lower part of the Barrio de la Magdalena and the Arsenal Militar was built in the early nineteenth century becoming the first of the great urban avenues of Galicia. A walk through its interior allows one to contemplate numerous plant species from all over the world, such as the Himalayan cedar.

More information on routes and visits to museums and official facilities at https://visitferrol.com

Did you know about this surf party?

Its history goes back to 1988, year in which for the first time an event of these characteristics was realized in the community without knowing very well if it was going to work or not. But it did, and that year the championship ended with the victory of Jorge Imbert, then champion of Spain and who had come to the challenge almost by chance. Since then, every year the most outstanding figures meet the world of surfing, bodyboarding and windsurfing. That is why, over the next few years, the tournament was growing up, becoming part of the world championship in 1993. In 2009 received the award for the best sporting event in Galicia (awarded each year by the Secretaria Xeral do Deporte Galego), in 2013 it was awarded the Gold Seal of the Concello de Ferrol for his 25 years of promotion of the region and it is in 2016 when it is declared Festival of Tourist Interest of Galicia.

This year, the Pantín Classic Galicia reaches its 30th edition, enjoying a great international prestige and a great hearth. In fact, it is the second oldest surfing championship in Europe, and the fourth in the world. They will count with great surfing figures such as Federico Morais, Joan Duru, Kanoa Igarashi and Goni Zubizarreta in the men’s box, and Coco Ho, Pauline Ado and Leticia Canales in the women’s. One of the novelties of this year is its duration, since it will be extended nine days (from August 26 to September 3). In addition, there are many activities planned and concerts that will make us enjoy a unique day, because it’s exciting, different and takes place in a wonderful enclave.

Because in the Pantín Classic the party is not only in the sea, and we are facing more than a surfing championship. In the 4,000 square meters that will occupy the assembly of this edition there will also be a space for shops, food trucks, skate ramps and colloquia on sports medicine, as well as a tourist assistance office. In their commitment to environmental conservation, environmental talks will also be held and waste collection will be carried out on the beach where the event takes place.

It is, in short, a magical event in which each wave remains engraved in a corner of our memory, although we are accustomed to see them. And if we are not, the experience is virtually unique. As the famous surfer Gerry López said, “surfing is dancing with the waves”. And on the Galician coast that dance is a spectacle.

Last year more than 55,000 people visited the beach during this championship, and the live broadcast over the internet exceeded 132,000, but this year promises to break all records.

If you also want to join, you know where and when you have an appointment. The Pantín Classic never disappoints!