 A walk through Pamplona is a real pleasure. The city’s extensive green areas make it very inviting to tour the city on foot. You can verify this for yourself by getting an early start and making your way to the Vuelta del Castillo where you can visit the Park of the Ciudadela. Here, you can have a look in the different pavilions which house a variety of expositions. As you leave the park, you will find yourself in front of the Baluarte, Pamplona’s new Convention Centre, where most of the city’s cultural activities are held. It was designed by Navarran architect Francisco Javier Mangado.
Descending two streets, you will enter the Casco Antiguo (Old Quarter) where you can take a stroll along the world-renowned route run by the bulls in Sanfermines. During the festival, the balconies which overlook the street are rented out at exorbitant prices, although the owners of the houses do offer you a sumptuous breakfast and they themselves watch the running on TV.
The bulls begin their ascent at the end of Santo Domingo hill; here you can see the niche where the saint is placed so that the “mozos” (young men who run) can sing to him and ask for his protection. After this comes the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the size of which always surprises visitors. “It looks a lot bigger on TV”, is the most commonly heard exclamation in the plaza – most are accustomed to seeing the televised “Chupinazo” (opening ceremonies) when hundreds of people crowd into the square to welcome the start of the festival.
The Curva de Mercaderes (Mercaderes Curve) is another emblematic spot on the route since it is here that the bulls always loose their footing and fall on top of each other. Once they are back on their feet, they continue along Calle La Estafeta – this is also an ideal place for visitors to stop and sample the different pintxos (tapas) found in the bars along this street. With a full stomach, you can continue on to the bullring, the place where the bull-run finally comes to an end.
In the afternoon, you might choose to stroll through the Taconera Gardens where you can see fawns, a duck pond and even peacocks, as well as take in the magnificent views of the Arga River and San Cristóbal Mountain. You can’t leave without first stopping at the Café Vienés; here, you can enjoy the best tiramisu in the city.
At night, Pamplona – like the university-city par excellence that it is – offers a wide range of possibilities for having fun. The bars in the Old Quarter are the busiest and are divided into different zones by age. But if you feel young and you want to keep on going after they close, you can make your way to the neighbourhood of San Juan where several discotheques can be found.
As stroll along the bull-run route is a must.
Museum of Navarra: founded in 1956, it houses Navarra’s cultural legacy from prehistoric times up to the present. The museum periodically holds temporary exhibitions as well.
Sarasate Museum-Hall: Here you can see the personal effects, violins, etc. of the musical genius Pablo Sarasate. The city has also dedicated a public walkway to this great violinist.
Diocesan Museum: Founded in 1960 and renovated in 1995, it exhibits sacred works of art from the region of Navarra. Highlights include Marian images, reliquaries and several altarpieces, including one by Van Dyck.
The Taconera Gardens: These Versaillesque gardens are the oldest, most beautiful and most emblematic in the city. They house a zoo located in the pits of the old walls which features fawns, ducks, peacocks, goats, chickens and more… Don’t miss out on the spectacular views of San Cristóbal Mountain and the Arga River which can be had here.
Vuelta del Castillo Park: Especially popular with students in summer, this park features extensive gardens which can be enjoyed on foot or by bike. Located inside is the Park of the Ciudadela, where several different pavilions host a variety of expositions.
Yamaguchi Park: Pamplona is the sister-city of the Japanese town of Yamaguchi and this oriental-style park was built in its honour. The park’s lake usually freezes over in winter.
 The Ayuntamiento (City Hall) was built in 1752 and its Baroque façade still survives today. It is one of Pamplona’s most emblematic buildings and incorporates several architectural styles including Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. It is three storeys high and the Chupinazo (rocket which signals the start of Sanfermines) being fired from the second floor.
The Cathedral of Pamplona has collapsed several times since its construction in Roman times. The current cathedral dates from 1394 although construction wasn’t completed until the 18th century. The highlight of this Gothic cathedral is its interior, which was recently renovated and is surprisingly colourful. One of the most important monuments here is the royal mausoleum featuring the horizontal funerary statues of the Monarchs of Navarra, Charles III “the Noble” and Eleanor of Trastamara, his wife. This 15th-century European sculpture was created by Jehan Lome de Tournai and his collaborators between 1413-1419.
The Cámara de Comptos (General Accounting Office) is situated in Calle Ansoleaga, and is the only Gothic-style civil building in Pamplona. Coins from the various Kingdoms of Navarra can be found inside.
The Plaza del Castillo connects the Old Quarter to the Ensanche neighbourhood. It is the place where the victories of the Osasuna football club are celebrated but it is also used for outdoor concerts and demonstrations and features a kiosk in the centre. Despite the fact that it was recently renovated and its traditional paving stones were removed, the plaza still maintains its former charm.
The Statue of Ernest Hemingway: The city of Pamplona built a statue in honour of the famous author who never ceased to sing the praises of the city. During Sanfermines, the “pamplonicas” (residents of Pamplona) dress him up with the typical “pañuelico” (kerchief) of San Fermín. The statue is located in front of the bullring.
Statue of the Encierro: A statue representing a scene from the encierro (running of the bulls) was recently erected – it depicts several young men and bulls in full flight and is located very near the bullring.
 Pamplona was founded by the Roman general Pompey in the year 75 B.C. on the site of a primitive Vascon settlement. Due to the cultural influence of Rome and the coming of Christianity, the city established itself as a political and religious capital. The constant invasions of the Visigoths, Moors and Carolingians led to the fortification of the town with stout walls which still survive today and add a special charm to the city.
Once the conflicts were over at the start of the 20th century, some of the walls began to disappear as the population spread outside of the narrow confines of the fortifications. Several neighbourhoods sprung up and continue to grow at a rapid pace.
Nowadays the city is known around the world thanks to the fact that Ernest Hemingway sang the praises of the Festival of San Fermín everywhere he went. From 6th to 14th July, the city fills up with tourists eager to experience the essence of the celebration. But the doors of the city are not only open during Sanfermines; the University Clinic and the University of Navarra both enjoy a great deal of prestige and international renown and draw visitors to Pamplona on a year-round basis.
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