Pamplona

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San Fermin festival, Pamplona

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.

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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

  1. 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...

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Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. cavangal avatar
    RE: Public Transportatoin from Porto to Santiago De Compostela

    by cavangal 02 June 2012

    Many thanks for response. My reason in considering overnight stop enroute to French border, I felt if I had enough time I might like…
  2. anillos_de_saturno avatar
    RE: Public Transportatoin from Porto to Santiago De Compostela

    by anillos_de_saturno 01 June 2012

    From Porto to Santiago de Compostela you can take a direct bus. [Alsa|www.alsa.es] and ][Internorte|www.internorte.pt] sell tickets for…
  3. cavangal avatar
    Public Transportatoin from Porto to Santiago De Compostela

    by cavangal 01 June 2012

    Need help planning my route from Porto to Santiago Compostela. If anyone knows of early bus or train leaving from Porto would like to…

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