Introducing Pamplona
Pamplona (Basque: Iruña), capital of the fiercely independent Navarra, can seem a touch austere at times, partly because of the dark stonework of its older buildings and partly because of a lingering reputation for Navarran reactionary politics. Yet Pamplona is the home of Los Sanfermines (Fiesta de San Fermín) one of the most riotous and extreme festivals in Europe. At the heart of the festival is El Encierro, the Running of the Bulls, an activity that many other countries would have banned years ago because of the perceived cruelty to animals and danger to people.
Advertisement
All this apart, Pamplona is fascinating at any time. A fine cathedral is the jewel in the crown and there’s much to be enjoyed by simply meandering along narrow streets or relaxing in the vast green belt on the western edge of the inner city. Pamplona’s bars and restaurants have a growing reputation for superb pintxos, and a healthy Basque culture among young people enlivens things.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Tips & articles
-
Raging bull: Festa do Boi in Allariz
20 November 2009
Dominic Bonuccelli travelled to Spain on assignment for Lonely Planet. You can follow his adventures on Lonely Planet: Roads Less...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
Re: Pamplona - 1 week, NOT the running of the bulls!
by crimsonblue 07 September 2011
anillos seems very well informed about this area of Spain. I totally vouch his information as I have been through the area from Pamplona…
-
RE: Pamplona - 1 week, NOT the running of the bulls!
by anillos_de_saturno 05 September 2011
bleen68 said on #4: +(I doubt Estella has it's own bishop or I'd call it a Cathedral).+ Estella doesn't have a cathedral. Estella is…
-
RE: Pamplona - 1 week, NOT the running of the bulls!
by bleen68 05 September 2011
The walls of Pamplona actually are quite pleasant and there are several nice museums. But as people have said there are a number of day…
