Pamplona lies in the north of Spain, only around a one hour drive from the French border. The city was founded by the Romans, who named it Pompaelo after Pompey the Great. Its bi-millennial history has led it to be a modern, calm and welcoming city, endowed with monuments and historical passages, centuries-old walls, and with an appreciated gastronomy with a wide range of delicious pintxos. The heart of the old city is the sprawling Plaza del Castillo, a constant hub of activity surrounded by lovely façades and stylish cafés. The rest of the city center is a dream come true for any wanderer, as it's full of unexpected nooks, wonderful architecture, unique museums and a vibrant nightlife. Among the historical buildings, we may cite the Cathedral of Santa Maria (XIV and XV century, with one of the best cloisters in Europe), the churches-fortresses of the three Burgos (Navarrería, San Saturnino and San Nicolás), the City council, the medieval walled enclosure or the Citadel, considered the best example of military architecture of the Spanish Renaissance.

Pamplona is also the gateway to the Way of St James on the Iberian Peninsula, as it is the first city of the French route. The Way of St James is celebrating because 2021 was a Holy Year, and it has been extended to 2022 as an exception due to the pandemic.

One of Pamplona's most notable aspects is the impressive amount of parks, gardens and other green spaces that make Pamplona one of Europe's "greenest" cities and a very pleasant one for tourists.

While Pamplona has achieved international notoriety thanks to Ernest Hemingway's fascination with and descriptions of the thrilling Running of the Bulls in his novels, this otherwise tranquil city is much more than the bull dashing frenzy that often seems to define it. The winding streets of the compact city center not only host the clamoring bulls for one week each July, but are also home to plenty of history, architectural treasures, pretty plazas, quaint shops and delightful cafés.

You can find more information about Pamplona using this link.

ABOUT NAVARRA

Pamplona is the capital of Navarra, one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities. The historic Reyno de Navarra is today a community with a great natural and cultural diversity. From the snowy peaks of the Pyrenees to the arid Bardenas Reales, Navarra enjoys evergreen valleys such as Roncal or Baztan, beautiful and colorful forests such as the impressive Irati Forest, Orgi or Quinto Real and gorges of vertigo carved by the passage of water as the foz of Lumbier or Arbayún. In addition, there are several historical monuments, such as Santa María de Eunate, famous monasteries (San Salvador de Leyre, Irache, Fitero, La Oliva …), Olite Castle, Javier Castle, the Roncesvalles Collegiate Church, the Castle of Marcilla or the Enclosure of Artajona.

The long-standing culinary tradition is another asset of Navarra, which has managed to preserve a traditional recipes, with excellent vegetables from the Ribera such as artichokes, beans, asparagus or Piquillo peppers, mushrooms and meats to enjoy with the accompaniment of red, rosé and white wines with certified origin of Navarra, as well as cheese, curd, canutillos and fried milk, which can give way to pacharán liqueur.

Detailed information about Navarra can be found at the Turismo Navarra webpage.