About Pamplona

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Pamplona in Spanish Iruña in basque is in the province of Navarra in northern Spain. It is steeped in history, religion, tradition & culture. The city is built on a hilltop for protection and it is a fortress town, with its city walls intact in the old town (Casco Viejo). Located a mere 80 km from the border with neighboring France across the lower Pyrenees which makes it the perfect place to enjoy the real “Green Spain” or maybe you are a wine aficionado, then its easy to explore the wine regions of Navarra, La Rioja or Ribiera del Duero as they are all close-by. Whether you want to climb the Pyrenees, jump in the ocean at San Sebastian, experience some of the best wines in the world or have a life-changing experience by Running with the Bulls.

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The festival, held annually between 6 -14th July dates back before the 12th century & is now 3 events in 1: the religious homage to San Fermin which marks the date he entered Amiens (France), Cattle fairs have been promoted since the reign of Carlos I in 1324 & Bull fights first took place in the Plaza del Castillo on October 10th 1324 via Calle Chapitela which leads to the main square. Locals are called pamplonicas & enjoy the fiesta even more than the visitors, as families & friends from over Spain often take their holidays and go to the sanfermines. Yes that's right! A big family oriented event that caters for youngsters galore with, Parades, Giants, Bigheads, Kilikis, Zaldikos, Toro del Fuego, family shows, traditional music & dance, cultural sports, fairgrounds, nightly firework display &  all free, total non stop party 24/7, 9 days 204 hours of fiesta

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Hemingway is really the one to blame for the world-wide fame from his acclaimed novel "The Sun Also Rises" which he details in the book, draws attention from all walks & corners of world, students, C.E.O.´s, sports fanatics, runners, thrill-seekers, daredevils, macho men.....and women plus lots of people who like being at the biggest party in the world. Revelers literally take " life by the horns" (pun intended) and go to the next level after having experienced & witnessed the encierro or "running of the bulls" at the San Fermin festival that the great man wrote about!