Travel Guide Pamplona

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As stated by the lyrics of the song "... First of January, February the 2nd, March 3rd, April 4th, May 5th, June 6th, July 7th San Fermin!, ..." and that if for anything is Pamplona so famous, is for the festivity of San Fermin, a festival universally known that every year begins with the traditional "chupinazo", that stains with red the streets of the city and especially Navarra, unleashing a collective euphoria and a multitude of people unimaginable if you have not ever been there.

If we keep talking about San Fermin, those SanFermines that both surprised and intrigued Hemingway, we have to tell you that this festival is probably one of the most powerful experiences in life to live, but we also must warn you of one thing: the famous "encierros", these races of people in front of a bull, running through narrow streets are an  indescribable beauty, they are also an unparalleled experience for viewing, but watch out if you want to participate! These are not unsafe festivals. On the contrary. But unfortunately, every year, more and more inexperienced people become involved, not knowing what is to put themselves in front of a bull and, worst, with an improper attitude. Thus, there have been unfortunate accidents often and some fatal mishaps. This does not try to put fear in the body to discourage your participation, much less, but if you do, at least, be aware of your own skills, experience and above all be responsible.

Such responsibility is not (try to) get to run in front of a brave bull after a night plenty of alcohol and with no sleep. And alcohol is another major feature of these celebrations. If you're at the stage of spending sleepless nights or if you want to remember old battles, the feast of San Fermin is the ideal occasion.

If you want to see the path of the encierro, from the pens of the slope Santo Domingo to the Plaza de Toros, the same is marked and appears in almost all guidebooks.

But as men (and women) not only live on party, Pamplona has much more things to offer, that we should know.

And to know Pamplona, first, a little bit of information: Pamplona (Iruña is the co-official name in Euskera) is the capital of the autonomous region of Navarra, and despite the most famous feast mentioned, we will be surprised to know how many landmarks and attractive corners there are to visit, the vestiges of an important Roman architectural, area brimming with cultural flavor and with a fascinating history, an area of lush vegetation and an area of very rich and tasty cuisine.

And the cuisine, in line with the rest of the north of the Iberian Peninsula, is an exquisite and consistent cuisine. The Navarra gastronomy will delight us with tasty dishes as beans with chorizo ​​de Pamplona (one of the finest sausages that I ever tasted) or tender ham, stew to tudelana or Tafalla ratatouille (pisto), only to give some examples. Gastronomy that we will complete some of the best wines from Navarra, one of the best and most renowned wines in Spain.
But if we have already had fun in the San Fermin festival and we've filled our stomachs with the excellent food that the noble Pamplona people has to offer, may already be time we fill our minds, so let us start a more cultural tour, where the offer we will find is excellent:

In the center of Pamplona, you can visit the Plaza del Castillo, a true meeting point and gathering Pamplona society, with its characteristic quiosco (bandstand), surrounded among other landmarks of the city by the Café Iruña (do not leave the town without visiting it), the town hall in the city called Casa Consistorial (which has a beautiful XVII century façade), the command center of the municipal power, and the Palacio de Navarra, symbol of the historical identity of Navarre.

If what you like are museums, you can visit for example:

The museum dedicated to the sculptor Jorge Oteiza that names the museum, which showcases more than 150 sculptures and 300 pieces of the Chalks Laboratory, as well as previously unpublished drawings and collages of the artist, in addition to temporary exhibitions.

The Museum of Navarra, which is the most recognized of the city, based on the old Hospital of Our Lady of Mercy, in the old town of Pamplona, where assets are pieces of Navarre from prehistory to the present. In addition to permanent collections,  there are temporary exhibitions and cinema recommended, we suggest a tour.

Also, whether to feed the spirit or simply to admire its beauty and architectural grandeur, we should take a tour of the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria, in the old part of town, the church of San Cemin and the church of San Nicolás. And if that spiritual rest has taken us into a state of inner peace and relaxation, we can complete the visit with a tour around the gardens of the Taconera, which are the oldest gardens in the city, and the Citadel and the park "Vuelta del castillo", this certainly is the green lung of the city. Recall that Pamplona is one of the greenest cities in Europe for its many parks. A very original one, is Yamaguchi Park, Japanese style, in honor of one of the world's cities twinned with Pamplona (Yamaguchi, very close to Hiroshima) .

If you want to go shopping, the Tourists Club recommends you:

Apart from the classic articles of clothing, jewelry and accessories in the Old Town, 1st and 2nd Ensanche and San Juan, adventure yourself to buy typical Navarrenses products in gastronomy area such as wines (with denomination of origin) and sheep cheeses, or artisanal such as leather boots for wine and, of course, a red scarf that you can not miss in your suitcase if you have visited Pamplona, which may be accompanied by San Fermin shirts with designs.
If all this hard work, food, shopping and visits have left us exhausted, we may be able to regain strength in the excellent hotels offer in the city, you will find options here in the Tourists Club, to suit all tastes, needs and budgets.

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