Immortalized in literature by Ernest Hemingway, the San Fermin festival, held annually in the city of Pamplona between 6 and 14 July, is an explosive, passionate and occasionally gory festival that is an important element of Spanish heritage. Its most famous event is the the running of the bulls or 'encierro' but it is in essence a weeklong celebration that includes many other traditional events. The festival is known by the locals as Sanfermines and is held in honour of St Fermin, one of the patron saints of the area, although most people around the world refer to the event as the Pamplona Bull Run, or just simply Pamps. Over 1 million people attend each year and it has become the most internationally renowned festival in Spain.
The actual running of the bulls involves hundreds of people running in front of six bulls and another six steers, down an 825-metre (0.51 mile) stretch of narrow streets of a section of the old town of Pamplona. Yes, you know the scene; you have seen it on the news every July with mad Spaniards and tourists running through the streets trying to get out of the way of these rampant bulls.
The encierro is an experience even just for spectators and is a spectacle that is defined by the level of risk and the physical ability of the runners. The encierro is run each morning at 8am between 6 and 14 July and is one of the highlights of the entire San Fermin festival.
The setting off a chupinazo (fire cracker) from a city hall balcony with literally tens-of-thousands of people celebrating the start of the festival around the city hall square starts the festival at noon on 6 July.
On 7 July thousands of people accompany the 15th-century statue of Saint Fermin through the old part of Pamplona.
Each morning of the festival there is the parade of giants and big heads. These giants figures are amazingly more than 150 years old.
There is a bullfight at 6:30pm each evening between 7 and 14 July. While the bullring of the city is the fourth largest in the world, it is full every evening and involves the six bulls that were driven to the bullring during the morning's Bull Run.
Every night a firework spectacle is held at the citadel park. Thousands of people watch the fireworks each night. It is best to get to the area early to get a good seat somewhere on the grass around the citadel.
The actual running of the bulls involves hundreds of people running in front of six bulls and another six steers, down an 825-metre (0.51 mile) stretch of narrow streets of a section of the old town of Pamplona. Yes, you know the scene; you have seen it on the news every July with mad Spaniards and tourists running through the streets trying to get out of the way of these rampant bulls.
The encierro is an experience even just for spectators and is a spectacle that is defined by the level of risk and the physical ability of the runners. The encierro is run each morning at 8am between 6 and 14 July and is one of the highlights of the entire San Fermin festival.
The setting off a chupinazo (fire cracker) from a city hall balcony with literally tens-of-thousands of people celebrating the start of the festival around the city hall square starts the festival at noon on 6 July.
On 7 July thousands of people accompany the 15th-century statue of Saint Fermin through the old part of Pamplona.
Each morning of the festival there is the parade of giants and big heads. These giants figures are amazingly more than 150 years old.
There is a bullfight at 6:30pm each evening between 7 and 14 July. While the bullring of the city is the fourth largest in the world, it is full every evening and involves the six bulls that were driven to the bullring during the morning's Bull Run.
Every night a firework spectacle is held at the citadel park. Thousands of people watch the fireworks each night. It is best to get to the area early to get a good seat somewhere on the grass around the citadel.
About the Author:
Pamplona Running of the Bulls is a must-do event on any travellers calendar. The events and festival travel specialists, FOMO Travel, provides an extensive array of information and advice on tour operators, travel options, travel tips, and other activities for San Fermin.