Heritage and harmony in Pamplona Spain

Pamplona is the special city where the running of the bulls takes place every year. It is the centre of the Basque region and capital of the former Kingdom of Navarra. Locals are very proud of their heritage and customs but they’re open to everything new and they like to share their culture.

Pamplona is a bit harder to get to than most Spanish cities. The city’s airport only welcomes inland flights coming from Madrid or Barcelona. If you arrive in the cities mentioned above you can also take the train to Pamplona. Pilgrims come to the city as the first important stop on the El Camino. Pamplona has a Mediterranean climate but it is strongly influenced by continental weather. Keep a raincoat in your bag just in case. The mornings can be a bit chilly too. Pamplona is not well known to tourism only the San Fermin festival can fill the city with visitors, but mostly Spanish people. The old town has many comfortable hotels and there are pilgrim’s albergues too. Probably you won’t find a lot of tourist information offices but you can grasp the untouched world of Spanish and Basque culture in Pamplona.

Running of the bulls in Pamplona

Pamplona’s symbol is a not building nor a person, rather a special festival. The San Fermin festival takes place between the 6th and 14th of July. This is the time of the year when everybody gets excited. The famous writer Hemingway epitomized the festival in the book called Fiesta. The running of the bulls is organized on a roughly 1 km long path separated from the rest of the town by strong fences. The running starts in the morning so you have to wake up early if you want to see it. The best option is to get a ticket to the stadium since it is the finish of the run. Daring people run across the city chased by bulls and they arrive at the gates after 3-4 minutes. You can see a small bullfight after that and professional duels in evening. Be sure to get the tickets in advance because of the crowd. To celebrate the bravery of runners a week long fiesta is organized in the city. Join the feasts, street parades, dances and musical performances!

Things to do in Pamplona

If you decide to spend a few days in Pamplona don’t miss the 14th century Gothic cathedral. The cathedral might seem a bit austere but the adjoining convent is absolutely wonderful. The city was a fortress for a long time so you can see a lot of walls and towers. The El Camino goes through the city gate. If you follow the way you’ll see the most important parts of Pamplona. Look for the golden seashells on the pavement. The Plaza del Castillo is a real Spanish square where you’ll definitely find something interesting going on. There are concerts and open air theatres during the summer. The Baroque façade of the city hall is a remarkable sight. During the San Fermin flags are placed on the balcony to further ameliorate the square’s beauty. Walking in the old tow you’ll definitely see some charming restaurants.

You can taste the very best of Basque cuisine in the form of tapas. Of course you can find typical Spanish dishes like Serrano ham, cheese and paella. Basque meals are quite spicy and chefs use a lot of pepper and strong seasonings. Fish and mutton is very popular amongst the locals. Aside from tapas try the pintxot (pintso), which is a tiny sandwich with some ham, cheese, fish and butter. Taste all the great food in one piece. Have a glass of sangria or cider to accompany your meal. Wine is cheap and good too. Look for the La Rioja region and its fine red wines.

If you have some extra time, visit nearby cities like Logrono or Bilbao. The best way to travel is by train. Lovers of hiking will enjoy the Pyrenees’s high peaks.