Pamplona (Iruña)
Pamplona (Iruña) is the capital city of Navarra. It has a population of around 171,150, and is 92 kilometres from the town of San Sebastián, and 407 kilometres from Madrid. Behind it's impressive city walls you'll find Pamplona's most important building, the fourteenth century gothic cathedral, which is definitely worth a visit. There are another two main Gothic churches in the old city, San Sernin and San Nicolás which were both built during the thirteenth century.
On the 6th July at midnight the famous Fiesta de San Fermín starts. During this festival el encierro/running of the bulls, made famous by Ernest Hemingway, takes place.
He was honoured for this by having a street in the city named after him, Paseo Hemingway.
El Encierro 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 towards the bull ring.
Accommodation in the city is very hard to find during the festival and expect prices to treble in most places. Albergues will not be open during this period so it is probably best to not to be walking through Pamplona during the festival.
History
The Romans called the city Pompaelo, after it's founder Pompey. By 409 Pamplona was controlled by the Visigoths and then for a brief period by the Muslims.
By the 8th century it had become the center of the kingdom of Navarra and by the end of the 10th century it's position on the Camio de Santiago assured it's prosperity.
During the Spanish Civil war, Pamplona along with the rest of Navarra sided with Franco and the Nationalists.
Layout
Pamplona has maintained the medieval layout of the town, including a star fort.
The old city is very compact and is bordered to the north and east by the Río Arga and by the remains of the old walls, and to the west by parks and the old citadel.
The city is home to two universities, the Universidad de Navarra, founded by Opus Dei in 1952, and the Universidad Pública de Navarra, created by the government of Navarra in 1987.
Most of the cheapest accommodation is in the streets west of the main square, Plaza Del Castillo.
Everything incuding the bus station and the bullring is a short walk from here.The train station however is on the other side of the river, north west of the center.
Getting There & Back
To get there you should book a flight to/from Pamplona, Bilboa or Madrid
On arrival you may want to hire a car, book a train ticket or book a bus ticket to take you to your final destination
Accommodation
Remember: During San Fermin Festival 6th July - 14th July, accommodation prices treble and is extremely hard to find. Albergues are closed during the festival.
For great deals on hotel accommodation
Albergue Jesús y Maria, Calle Compañia 4
Beds: 110. Open Apr - Oct. Has cooking & laundry facilities.
Albergue Paderborn, Playa de Caparroso. Tel: (0034) 948 22 15 58
Beds: 28. Open Apr - Oct. Has dining facilities.
Pension Acella II, Calle Acella, 11 6º B. Tel: (0034) - 948 26 10 00 / 948 17 33 48
E-mail: acella@ono.com
Pension Acella III, Calle Acella, 11 6º B. Tel: (0034) - 948 26 10 00 / 948 17 33 48
E-mail: acella@ono.com
Pension Acella IV, Calle Pintor Paret, 2 2º E. Tel: (0034) - 948 26 10 00 / 948 17 33 48 / 619 78 69 99
Website: www.hostalacella.com E-mail: acella@ono.com
Check here for great deals on hotels in Pamplona or check here to see if there is any budget hostel accommodation in the area
Hotel Eslava, Plaza de la Virgen de la O 7. Tel: (0034) 948 22 22 70
Website: www.hotel-eslava.com Email: correo@hotel-eslava.com
Hotel Pamplona Plaza, Avenida Marcelo Celayeta, 35. Tel: (0034) 948 13 60 12
Website:www.hotelpamplonaplaza.com Email: reservas@hotelpamplonaplaza.com
Hotel Yoldi, Avenida San Ignacio / San Inazio Etorbidea 11. Tel: (0034) 948 22 48 00
Website:www.hotelyoldi.com Email: yoldi@hotelyoldi.com
Where to Eat
The cuisine of Pamplona has an excellent reputation and is extremely varied thanks to the characteristics of its surrounding landscapes.
Specialities are several preparations of game, usually in tasty sauces, as well as salmon and trout. An original recipe is trout filled with cured ham.
Also Pochas de Sangúesa, a very delicious kind of beans of high reputation, are the base of many typical dishes.
The region is famous for its dishes of lamb and goat: Asados de Cordero, Cabrito and Cordero en Chilindrón.
It also has delicious vegetables, like the mild Pimientos del Piquillo (red pepper) and Asparagus, as well as an original preparation of fish in a sauce of garlic and paprika, called Ajoarriero.
the dishes mentioned above should be combined with one of the well-known wines of the region of Navarra.
Pamplona has an enormous variety of options for eating out, from sandwiches in bars to a meal in a fancy restaurant. Remember that prices rise quite considerably during the fiesta.
Local meal times are generally 2:00pm - 3:00pm for lunch and 9:00pm - 10.30 pm for dinner.
Tourist Information/ Oficina de Turismo
The Tourist Office, Calle del Duque de Ahumada 3.
Opening: Mon - Fri 10:00am - 14:00pm then 16:00pm - 19:00pm
Sat 10:00am - 14:00
Post Office / Oficina de Correos
Main Post Office, Paseo de Sarasate
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 08:00 - 20:30 Sat 09:30 - 14:00
No service on July 6th, 7th and Sundays.
Medical & Emergency Services
Emergency Number for all services: 112
Hospital de Navarra: 848 422 100 - Calle Irunlarrea, 3
Hospital Virgen del Camino: 848 429 400 - Calle Irunlarrea, 4
Municipal Police: 092
Regional Police (red and grey uniform): 112 - 948 426 830
Nacional Police: 091 - Calle General Chinchilla, 3
Guardia Civil (Civil Guard): 062 or 948 296 850 - Avenida Galicia, 2
Traffic Guardia Civil: 948 234 700
Others
Citizens' Enquiries: 010
Bullring: 948 221 059 - Calle Amaya, 1
Main Post Office (includes Telegrams): 948 221 263 - Paseo de Sarasate, 9
Telegrams by phone: 948 222 000
Public call boxes: Paseo Ernest Hemingway, next to the Bullring
Lost Property: 948 420 612