Pamplona, the capital of Spain's autonomous region of Navarra, is probably best known as the city where the Festival of San Fermin (with its associated Encierro or Running of the Bulls) is held each year in the second week of July.
Sanfermines Festival in Pamplona
The festival, known as Sanfermines, takes place annually from July 6th to 14th, during each morning of which the Encierro, made famous by Ernest Hemingway in his 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises. takes place. Young white-clad men (with a surfeit of androgens and adrenaline) wearing red kerchiefs about their necks, race through the streets of the city trying to outrun a dozen fierce bulls – perhaps the most well known event of Sanfermines.
But this vibrant city, capital of Spain’s autonomous region of Navarra, has more to recommend it to the visitor.
Pamplona and Iruña
Reputed to have been founded in the first century BC by the Roman general Pompey, Pamplona actually grew out of the Basque settlement of Iruña and over the centuries has witnessed Basque, Roman, Visigoth, Islamic and Catholic rulers, with each of these cultures leaving their influence and imprint on the city and its people.
El Camino de Santiago
The city has always been an important place of rest for pilgrims travelling on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela along the French Way (Via Frances). In fact the gateway to the city on the north-east, just across the Puente de Magdalena bridge over the River Arga, through which pilgrims from France have been entering the city for the past thousand years or so, is still known as the Portal de Francia.
Universidad de Navarra
Nowadays, with a population of almost 200,000, Pamplona is a welcoming and modern city, containing many large parks and historical buildings. It is home to one of Spain’s finest universities, the Universidad de Navarra, whose picturesque campus covers almost a million square metres.
The Old Quarter, known as San Saturnino, surrounded by ancient walls and watched over by medieval towers, is a fascinating place of narrow streets, small squares and noble churches. Among the superb places to eat is the Bodega a Sarria where you can get some great Pinxhos or Tapas to go with your delectable Navarrese wine.
Here are some other sites worth visiting in Pamplona.
The Santa María la Real cathedral has an interesting museum, outstanding 13th century cloisters with fine filigree stonework and the 15th century alabaster mausoleum of Navarra’s famous King Carlos III and his wife
The Plaza del Castillo is the main city square or nerve centre of the city, to which many of the narrow lanes of the historical quarter converge. Surrounded by houses most of which, with balconies, towers and large picture windows, were built in the 18th century. The Palace of Navarre, now the seat of government, is situated in the Plaza.
The Caballo Blanco, certainly one of the most charming corners of Pamplona, is situated beside Plaza de San José and the Cathedral. From here one has magnificent views over the city.
The star-shaped citadel, the Ciudadela (which was built during the 16th and 1th centuries to defend the city) and the park surrounding it that is known as the Vuelta del Castillo.
The many other parks such La Taconera, Yamaguchi Park with the planetarium provide green lungs for the city and pleasant walks for the visitor.
More information: Tourist portal of the City of Pamplona (in English)
Sanjiva Wijesinha - Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha, Associate Professor at Monash University medical school, writes on health, travel and medical topics.
