The Citadel

Together with the Vuelta del Castillo, which surrounds it, the Citadel makes up the great green space in Pamplona, 280,000 square metres in which pavilions, moats, bastions, ravelins, fortifitions, other buildings and gentle slopes are places where the city's inhabitants can relax or enjoy sport or culture. The Citadel, the main architectural focal point in the city of Pamplona, is also considered the best example of military architecture from the Spanish Renaissance and one of the most outstanding defensive fortifications to have been designed in Europe.

The Citadel came into being to protect Pamplona from its enemies following an order by King Philip II in 1571 to start construction work in order to take a stand against the constant incursions of the French army. Its original structure took the form of a regular pentagon, with five bastions in its corners, but the construction of the "Primer Ensanche" (first extension) of the city necessitated the demolition of two of them. The remains of the fort of San Antón came to light during the construction of the Baluarte Congress Centre and Auditorium of Navarre, and were integrated into the design of the building.

Discover the imposing Ciudadela by entering it on foot by the Avenida del Ejército or Vuelta del Castillo.

Chapel of San Fermín

 San Lorenzo

If the streets of Pamplona are the main stage for the world famous San Fermín festival, the Saint's Chapel, situated inside the Church of San Lorenzo, acts as the focal point for the faithful, who meet there to celebrate religious events in honour of the city's patron saint.

The City Council attends the church in full ceremonial regalia on July 6th every year, just a few hours after the chupinazo (ceremonial rocket) that inaugurates the festivity. Vespers of the main day of the fiesta, July 7th, are celebrated with a Mass, the only day of the year when the saint's reliquary, a polychromed, silver-covered wooden sculpture from the 15th century, leaves its home in a chapel of the Church of San Lorenzo to take part in the procession through the old quarter of the city. This takes place under the devoted and emotional gaze of thousands of pamploneses, as well as visitors from all over the world. The chapel then goes back to being a major protagonist in the religious activities of the Octava (Octave, or eighth Mass) which ends the eight-day festival.

On any other day of the year it is customary for locals and visitors to meet on this spot at the end of Calle Mayor (High Street). It is also customary for many engaged couples to want to get married in front of its altar, for which it is necessary to book a date many years in advance.

Day 7, Saturday

06.45 - 07.30  Dianas. Town  Hall Square and Bullfight Ring.

08.00 - Running of Bulls. Lives tock from Mrs. Dolores Aguirre Ybarra.

09.30- Giants and Big-heads.They Parade will depart from the Town  Hall Square.
Departure from Town Hall Square and the Municipal Corporation will accompany along the       Merchants and Curia streets, to collect the SI Cathedral´slobby coming back through Curia St., Merchants St, Town Hall Square, SanSaturnino St. and Mayor St arriving to San Lorenzo´s Church, which will departure the procession of San Fermin, amongst the following streets: Taconera, San Anton, Zapateria, Calceteros , Town Hall Square, San Saturnino´s and Mayor Streets.
The Giants and Big-heads Parade will take a rest in Mayor Street during the celebration of the Eucharist. After the religious ceremony they will accompany the City Council and Municipal Corporation through out the following streets: Mayor Street, San Saturnino, Town Hall Square, Merchants and Curia streets up to the Cathedral, in which atrium the Parade will dance to see out the Ecclesiastical Authorities. The return of the Municipal Corporation to the Town Hall Square will take place through the streets Curia and Mercaderes. Then the Parade will go to their site through the streets, Chapitela, Plaza del Castillo, San Ignacio Avenue, Estella Street, Tudela, Conde Oliveto, Peace Square (Plaza de la Paz) and end up in the Bus Station.

10.00 - San Fermin Procession.

11.30 - What a Holidays! Conde  de Rodezno Square. Events and attractions for children until 14.00 hours.

12.00 Departure of Music Bands. Labrit´s Pediment and Descalzos (Barefoot)

12.30 Regional Music. Concert by "Trasteando!  “Tinkering" (Alsasua).

13.00 - Basque Music. Taconera´s Park. Txistularis (basque flaut) Navarra´s Association.

13.30 - Regional Music. The Grove. Concert by "Trasteando!. “Tinkering"(Alsasua).

17.30 - Knights´ Parade in the Plaza, from Town Hall Square up to the Bullfight Ring.

18.00 - What a Holidays!. Events and attractions for children until 21.00h.

18.00 - Jotas (Navarra´s regional dance) "Round". From Town Hall´s Square.

18.30 - First Bullfigth of the Festival.  Bullfight Ring. Livestock of Mrs. Dolores Aguirre Ybarra. Matadors: Antonio Ferrera, Eduardo Gallo and Joselillo.

20.00 - Verbena (Dancing Meeting Event). Plaza de la Cruz. "YataganOrchestra" until 22.00.

20:00 - Villarejo Master Puppets Show.Conde de Rodezno Plaza."Gorgorito, the Puss in Boots and Princess Rosalinda."

20.00 - Regional Music. The Grove. House of Aragon. Aragon´s Jota Performance.

20:30 - Young Fueros. Fueros´  Square.Concert with local groups "La RanaToro (Bull Frog)" and "Kerasy" until 22.30.

21.00 - Music from Here. Plaza del Castillo. Txistu and Bagpipes danceables.

21:00 - Walking around. Street show made by "Skualo" Ziga Zaga´sCompany (Barcelona), along the Carlos III Avenue.

21:00 - Young Jazzfermín. Plaza de los Burgos. "Yerri Jazz Band".

22.00 - Bull fire. Plaza de Santiago.

23.00 - Fireworks. Ciudadela Park. Second Collection of the Sanfermines 2012 International Competition. Height Pyrotechnics (Castellón).

23.30 - Fueros´ Direct. Fueros´  Square. Performance by "Boikot” “Switchfoot"

23.30 - Verbena. Plaza de la Cruz. "Yatagan Orchestra", until 1.30 am.

00.00 - Verbena. Antoniuti´s Park. "Malassia Orchestra", unti l3.00 am.

00.00 - Concert. Plaza del Castillo. "Social Security".

00.00 - Euskal Music (Basque Music). Taconera´s Park.

00.00 - Music Band Departure. Town  Hall´s Square.

00.00 - Jazzfermin. Burgos´ Square.“Blues Band” Performance.

Population Pamplona

The number of in habitants has risen from 307,669 in 1900 to 605.876 in 2007 and the density has grown from 29 inhabitants per square kilometre to 55. The population growth in Navarre has been below the Spanish average and density continues to be low.
The growth of district administrative centres, and especially of Pamplona and its metropolitan areas, has evolved at the expense of draining population from areas in which small rural hamlets prevail.
The Valles Pirenaicos, Tierra Estella and Navarre Media Oriental have been losing inhabitants since the beginning of the 20th century; this also applies, albeit to a more moderate extent, to the Navarre Húmeda, and growth has only been recorded in both Riberas and in the Pamplona basin, which concentrates the majority of the population of Navarre.
In terms of municipalities, 42.3% of the population of Navarre live in cities of more than 20,000 inhabitants, namely Pamplona, Tudela and Barañain, 39.2% in towns of between 2,000 and 20,000 inhabitants and 18.5% live in villages of fewer than 2,000 people.

In recent years, as has occurred in Spain as a whole, Navarre has become a receiving region for a migrant population. In total, it is estimated that nearly 20,000 people have arrived from developing countries. The greater part of this migrant influx has settled in the district of Pamplona and the remainder is distributed throughout Navarre, although to a greater extent in the southern third of the community.


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Navarre, Geography

Navarre, the Comunidad Foral de Navarra, is situated in the North of Spain, at the western end of the Pyrenees, where it shares a 163-kilometre stretch of frontier with France. It has a land area of 10,421 km2 and is bordered, to the east, by Aragon – its provinces of Huesca and Zaragoza – to the south by Aragon and La Rioja, and to the northwest by the Basque Autonomous Community – Alava and Guipuzcoa -.

The vast range of terrains, climates and peoples in Navarre is traditionally grouped into three regions arranged from North to South: the Mountains (Montaña), the Middle Area (Zona Media) and the Ribera, on the banks of the Ebro River. Yet as this division is insufficient to cater for all the existing variations, these three divisions are, in turn, divided into districts (comarcas).

Accordingly, the Mountains consist of the humid Navarre Húmeda, the valleys of the Valles Pirenaicos and the river basins of the Cuencas Prepirenaicas; the Middle Area around Estella is called Tierra Estella and the eastern part is Navarre Media Oriental; finally, the lands of the South, close to the Ebro, are divided into the Ribera Estellesa and Ribera Tudela.   

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The museum of Navarre

The founding collections of the Museum of Navarre lie in the cultural assets assembled by the Commission of Historical and Artistic Monuments of the Ancient Kingdom of Navarre, institution founded in 1844, with the aim of safeguarding the Navarrese cultural heritage.
In 1910, a first Museum opened to the public in the current headquarters of the Regional Audit Office (Cámara de Comptos) with the objective of being a beacon of popular enlightenment. Years later, this mission would be continued by the Institution Prince of Viana (Institución Príncipe de Viana) created in 1940 by the Provincial Council of Navarre (Diputación Foral de Navarra) in order to protect, restore and research the artistic and archaeological heritage of Navarre.

Since 1956, the Museum of Navarre has been housed in the former Hospital of Our Lady of Mercy, which stands just within the walls on the north-western edge of the old town which lies surrounded by ramparts on a steep hill rising above the valley of the river Arga. Except for the sixteenth century façade and church, it has preserved next to nothing of the original building. In 1990, following a major refurbishment, the museum was reinaugurated by HM Queen Sofía.
In 2011, the Prehistory display gallery reopened to visitors with a new permanent exhibition room after a process of elimination of architectural barriers, updating of contents as a result of the archaeological findings of the last twenty years and renovation of its museographic .

    

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The city walls

The five-kilometre walls around the city create an unusual and evocative stroll around its history. The city walls of Pamplona are one of the most interesting and best preserved military structures in Spain and hold the status of National Monument.

As a medieval city, Pamplona surrounded itself with walls to defend itself against invaders, although it was not until the incorporation of the Kingdom of Navarre into the Crown of Castile in 1515 that its strategic location turned it into an advanced post of the Spanish crown against France.

The development of the great and formidable fortress began at that time and has its high point in the Citadel. Bastions gates, half-moons, ravelins, forts... all give the walled enclosure the sobriety and sophistication of this kind of defensive system.

Pamplona's urban development in the 20th century meant that some sections had to be demolished so that the modern city could expand. Its essence remains, however.

A walk along the path around the walls, which runs between the Media Luna and Taconera parks, combines the coldness and silence of the stones with the warm and welcoming green landscape in the background. The best way to start is by visiting the Interpretation Centre of the Fortifications  of Pamplona. Located at the end of the Media Luna park, it is an excellent place to understand the construction, evolution and life of the walls.
Fuente Turismo de Navarra

Taconera

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St Mary's Cathedral

Situated on the edge of the Casco Viejo (Old Quarter) of Pamplona, in the same site that the old Roman city of Pompaelo once stood, is Pamplona Cathedral, a fine example of the Gothic period (14th and 15th centuries). This symbolic monument houses the largest number of historic and artistic relics in the city. Kings were crowned and Parliaments convened in the cathedral; indeed, it was the seat of the royal court for three centuries.

The sobriety of its neoclassical façade, a work by Ventura Rodríguez, contrasts with the Gothic interior, where the 28-metre-high central nave is home to the fine tomb of Carlos III of Navarre and his wife, Eleanor of Castile. However, the real jewel of this cathedral is its cloister, considered among the most beautiful in the Gothic world, a must-see on every visitor's itinerary.
Fuente Turismo de Navarra 
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The City Hall

.
The City Hall is in the heart of the Old Quarter of the city, and its site is not a coincidence. In 1423 King Carlos III ("el Noble") of Navarre enacted a law called "El Privilegio de la Unión" (Privilege of the Union) to put an end to centuries of bickering and confrontations between the three boroughs and located the building on the spot where the three boroughs that existed at the time (Navarrería, San Saturnino and San Nicolás) came together.

The building has been renovated on a few occasions, the last in the middle of the 18th century, but none of the changes have affected its beautiful and colorist façade, where the Baroque and neoclassical styles merge. 

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Other running of the bulls in Navarre

Tafalla

In Navarre, in addition to the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, ​​they are organized other Running of the Bulls in several locations. Some ofthe most famous ones are in Tafalla, 30 km away from Pamplona and in Tudela, 90 km awat. Those experienced runners that love to get the adrenaline from Running with the Bulls in Pamplona they often turn to these Running of the Bulls that take place after San Fermin. Tudela´s festivities are celebrated from 24 to 30 July and Tafalla ones from 14 to 20 August. These experience runners feel the Running is better in these locations as the number of runners is lowe.

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Day 6, Friday

12.00 El Txupinazo. Town Hall. Live broadcast on giant screens in Antoniutti´s Park, Sarasate´sWalk , Carlos III Walk, Castillo´s Plaza and Fueros´ Plaza.

12.00 Music Bands Departure touring along Town  Hall´s Square and to Paseo Sarasate.

13.30 Folk Festival. Fueros´ Plaza.  Following groups performance Amaiur,Ardantzeta, Duguna, Elordi, Harizti, Iruña taldea, Larratz, Mikelats, MuthikoAlaiak, Oberena, Ortzadar and Txori Zuri, who will perform dances  from Lesaka,Bateleras, Jautsi and La era-Larraindantza.

16.30 Giants and Big-heads. Parade Departure from the bus station. The Parade will start its journey from the Bus Station, on the Paz´s Plaza, Yanguas y Miranda, Garcia Ximenez Garcia Castanon, Paseo Sarasate, Comedias, Pozoblanco, Zapatería and Town Hall Square. This Parade will accompany the Municipal Corporation on its way to Vespers among the San Saturnino and Mayor streets, arriving at the San Lorenzo´s Church for the event that will be held at 20.00 hours. After the event, they will return along Mayor´s and San Saturnino streets up to the Town Hall, where it will terminate its route.

17.30 Riau-Riau. Town Hall Square.The City Hall cortage, preceded by his retinue of mace-bearers, bugles and drums,Pamplona´s Band Music and Giants and Big Heads Parade with flutes and txistus will transfer from San Fermin Chapel where the official vespers song will take place.

18.00 What a Holidays! Plaza Conde de Rodezno. Events and attractions for children until 21h

18:30 Pipers Alarde (basque word). From Zacatín St.to the Segundo EnsancheMarket.

18.30 Rejones Bullfight. Bullfight Ring.Plaza deToros. San Mateo´s livestock for rejoneadores (Matadors riding a horse) PABLO HERMOSO DE MENDOZA, SERGIO GALAN AND ROBERTO ARMENDÁRIZ.

20.00 Solemn Vespers of San Fermin. San Fermin´s Chapel (San Lorenzo´s Church). Vespers sung by the Music Chapel on Pamplona´s Cathedral and Navarra Symphony Orchestra, who play "Great Vespers of San Fermin" by M. Garcia and others song all directed by the Chapel´s Master.

20.00 Regional Music. The Grove. Valencia´s County. Valencia´s Regional House inNavarra will perform with their Symphonic Band.

20:30. Fueros´s Square. Concert with localgroups Marvin and Barua up to 22.30.

20.30 Regional Music. The Grove. Valencia:performance of the Symphony Orchestra of the Valencian Community House in Navarre.

21.00 Local Music. Plaza del Castillo. Txistu´s Dances (small local flaut) and Bagpipes.

21.00 Walking along. "Medieval Parade" Show in the street by The Puppeteers of Binefar (Huesca), in the Avd de Carlos III

22.00 Fire Bull. Plaza de Santiago. Will travel along Merchants and Chapitela St.

23.00 Fireworks. Ciudadela Park. First show of the International Competition Sanfermines 2012. Pyrotechnics: Focs d'artifici Europlá (Valencia).

23.30 Fuero´s Direct. Fuero´s Square. Macaco Music Group Concert

23.30 Verbena. Plaza de la Cruz.Verbena. Plaza de la Cruz. Equus Orchestra until 01.30 am.

00.00 Verbena. Antoniutti´s Park. Pasito Orchestra Show, until 03.00 am.

00.00 Music Bands.Town Hall Square.

00.00 Concert. Plaza del Castillo. Guaraná Music Group.
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Glossary of San Fermin´s Terms -9-

28. Peñas.
They are a group of friends gathered together during all theSan Fermin Festival. Kind of “extended family”. Some people consider them to be the soul of the party. Each peña has its very own flag and an them. Its premises are meeting places, not only for those belong ing to them, but to anyone who want´s to have a good time there. They often are accompanied by a brass band.

29. Barracks: 
Is the funfair installed in the city during the San Fermin Festival and is visited several times by children and adults. Formerly it was set up on the esplanade behind the new Bus Station in Pamplona.  Nowadays is installed in Rochapea.This year the big attraction will be the tallest Treadmill in Europe.

30. Bull of fire:
 Artifact in the form of a bull, driven manually by a person and dropps fire and firecrackers while is running and teasing people. Starts from Santiago´s Plazaand the children love to run in front of it.

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Glossary of San Fermin´s Terms -8-

23.Poor me!:
This is the sad scream that is heard at midnight on July 14 at the Consistorial Plaza. It means that the festival of San Fermin has finished.

24. Iruña:
The name given to Pamplona in Euskera (Basque Language).

25. Jota:
On the 7th of July this is one of the little moments when a jota is sung by two girls in chorus to San Fermin Saint. This happens in the morning at 11.00 am. During the San Fermin Procession there is a stand still in the Council´s Plaza and that is when hundreds of people coming from Navarra´s County and those living in Pamplona are in total silence to hear the song, successfully performed, by the Santiago de Chantrea´s Choir. This ritual is a tradition since 1975.

26. 'Kalimotxo':
Is par excellence the main San Fermin´s drink, mainly among young people and is a mixing of red wine with Coke. Typically it's served in a 'Katxi', which is a larg plastic glass.

27. Naranjito
(This name was given to the Spanish Mascot during the World Cup 1982): These are people,  usually young, who are dressed in orange overalls and based in the key areas along Pamplona during the San Fermin Festival and their function is to guide visitors and provide information.
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Glossary of San Fermin´s Terms -6-

14. Shepherds:
Along the Running of the Bulls, 10 shepherds complete therunning itinerary behind the herd carrying a long cane made of ash or hazel. They whip up the bulls as they help determining the rhythm whilst they make sure that nobody distracts them on their way to the Bullfight Ring. Besides the cattle control they are controlling the runner too and they are the highest authority within the course.

15. Heifers:
Small brave cows that are released into the Bull Ring once the bulls are inside the arena and are guided up to the bullpen. The same rules apply to the heifers, it is forbidden to touch them, tease them or grab them by the tail.

16. Reveille:
 Musical sounds played by pipe bands and the cities music band, whose primary purpose was and is, to awaken the public and announce that a new day is ready for celebration.

17. Procession:
 The July 7, at 10 am, a Procession will part of San Fermín Saint to San Lorenzo´s parish. The tour is full of people who want to see the saint and the accompanying the retinue.

18. San Lorenzo Parish:
It houses the baroque chapel dedicated to San Fermin and was built in 1717. It keeps the statue of the saint, dated sixteenth century, silver-plated and placed on a pedestal carved in silver. The temple also contains the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, dated 1883.


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Glossary of San Fermin´s Terms. 5

10. Stacks:

1957

Named after the collapse that produces the crush of people in the Running of the Bulls itinerary, especially at the entrance to the Bullfight Arena. Pose a real danger as bulls will cross it as they please among this human pile. There are 24 registered historic human piles with 700 people injured and 15 of them gored. The first time this happened goes back to 1878.

11. “Tail” Meek (popular name Broom Meek):
They are castrated bulls and a different species of the wild bulls that run on the daily Running of the Bulls. They are trained and know the itinerary perfectly well and their mission, not always possible I´m afraid, is to maintain all the herd packed.

 12. Halters broom.
Tame cattle released into the enclosure after the departure of bulls and aims to guide potential sires that have fallen behind on the course.

13. Dobladores (kind of matador helpers):
This figure emerged in SanFermin Festival as a basic need. These people are placed in the Bullring and with the help of their mulch or cape will at their arrival to the Bullfight and lead them to the corrals where they will stay all day until the Bullfight takes place.

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Running and the Bulls 2012

We finally got the Bulls breed that will run this year every single day on the Running of the Bulls and willfight in the afternoon against the Matador in the Bullfight Arena.

07th July. Dolores Aguirre 
08th July. Miura
09th July. Cebada Gago
10th July. El Pilar
11th July. Fuente Ymbro
12the July. Vitoriano
13th July. Domeq
14th July. Torrehandilla

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"The ladder"

In Pamplona is a custom among many groups of friends, to organise a dinner on the following dates January 1st, February 2nd, March 3rd, April 4th, May 5th, June 6th and finally, the very last one on July7th.
These dinners are called "The Ladder", as the first step begins the first day of the year and the 7th and last step is in the 7th July when San Fermin Festival will start with the Running of the Bulls as the 6th of July is the Chupinazo or Opening Ceremony.

At this moment we are counting down as in less than 20 days we will reach the last step, which is the last and more important one.  Some of these groups of friends, only the most devoted, they organize a mass each day of “The Ladder”. This mass will beheld in San Lorenzo´s Church as there is where the image of San Fermin is located.

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The Running of the Bulls

The Running of the Bullsis a unique experience for all the people gathered on the itinerary and specially for those who are going to run in front of the Bulls. It's a show that is defined by the willing risk and the physical abilities.
 The inexperienced runner must be informed of the dangerous characteristics of this race and the necessary protective measures to be taken for their safety and those who are at their side. Most of the times, from the balcony, we could see that recklessness havecaused serious injuries.

The Running of the Bulls isnot for everyone. Requires serenity, excellent awareness and strong physical preparation. Those not meeting these requirements should not participate in the race. The risk is serious.
Runners must be at the section between the Town Hall  Square (were the Chupinazo takes place) and the Education Building on the Cuesta de Santo Domingo.They must do so before 7.30 am, because after that time the doors will be closed. The rest of the itinerary will remain completely free of runners so anyone is allowed to be there and if the police see anyone they will ask them to leave the street. Few minutes before 8 am all the runners will decide where they want to run and how would they like to experience this risky but unique experience. www.sanferminbalconies

The two herds of Halters(Castrated Bulls)

The six bulls that will be fighting against the matador on the daily’s San Fermin Bullfight are the same that will be making possible the daily Running of the Bulls. They will start the run followed by a first bunch of Halters as those are familiar with the itinerary and will be guiding them up to the Bullfight Plaza. Two minutes after they will release a second herd of castrated bulls and those are called the “Tail Halters”, they are smaller than the previous ones and run slower as their mission is to drag into the arena any main bulls that have been left behind in the itinerary.
The Halters also called castrated bulls are distinguished not only by their morphology but because they wear abell around the neck.

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Thank you so much!

Since 1998, GS Incoming has been working the San Fermin Festival (hotel booking, VIP Balconies, bullfights, specialized guides, etc). This year we plan to incorporate a blog - actually two, one in Englis hand the other in Spanish). Our first post was in December 2011 and we have been gradually progressing. Our purpose is to provide fresh and local information to our VIP customers during the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona. We will try to improve the blog notonly with our expertise but with all your experiences and suggestions as they are very valuable to us. We deliver a good service but we are sure with your feedback we can make it better.
Yesterday we were reviewing the visits to the blog andwe got a great joy to see the diversity of
countries who have visited =

United States, France, Belgium, Portugal, Ireland, Singapore, Honkong, India, Russia, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, United Kindong, Italy, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Croatia, Germany, India, Japan, Australia, Philippines, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Argentina and Spain
THANK YOU ALL!    
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Tragic List History forthe Running of the Bulls

Throughout the history ofthe Running of the Bulls in Pamplona16 people have died

July 10, 2009, a young man aged 22 from Madrid
July 8, 2003, a man aged 63 from Pamplona
July 13, 1995, a young man aged 22 from Illinois. United States of America.
July 13, 1980, a young man aged 26 from Navarre
July 13, 1980, a young man aged 29 from Navarre
July 8, 1977 a young man aged 17 from Pamplona
July 9, 1975 a young man aged 41 from Navarre
July 12, 1974 a young man aged 18 from Pamplona
July 12, 1969 a man aged 42 from Navarre
 July 9, 1961 a young man aged 32 from Pamplona
July 10, 1947 a man from Pamplona
July 10, 1947 a man from Navarre
July 10, 1935 a young man aged 29 from Mexico
July 8, 1927 a young man aged 34 from Pamplona
July 13, 1924 a young man aged 22 from Navarre
July 7, 1910 a young man aged 21 from Navarre

On July 13t 1924, Hemingway witnessed the deadly toss of the young runner Esteban Stephen that he reflected in his novel "The Sun Also Rises".

This post is IN MEMORIAL FOR ALL OF THEM

San Fermin Festival Agenda

Pamplona's Mayor, Mr. Enrique Maya, and the counsellor responsible for Education and Culture, Mr. Fermin Alonso, have presented at the press  conference this year´s San Fermin Festival agenda. There will be 431 events, of which 305 are Music Concerts and events, 77 Children's Activities, 33 Bulls Programs,8 Official Institutions and another 8 more as Sports Activities.´
The City Council wil lpublish 20,000 programs with these events and 5,000 posters, they will print 63,000 unfolding pocket size programs in Spanish, Basque, English, French and German. They will maintain last year´s prices so the poster will cost one euro and the mentioned program two euros.

They can be purchased at the Navarra´s Government InformationOffice and in all the bookstores around the city. According to the Mayor, this year´s program is "High Quality" with an wide range of events for all kind of people and ages.

Waste Containers during San Fermín

Before San Fermín will start, the city council´s workers will remove the "mailboxes" for waste collection that are among the Running of the Bulls itinerary and they will reinstalled the pavers in the hollows occupied by these mailboxes. The old mobile containers will re-occupy their old location but only during San Fermin.
The vacuum waste collection on Pamplona´s Old Town  Pamplona has been functioning over a year now. This system allows the collection and transfer of househ old waste from the boxes installed in the street directly toa treatment plant through underground tunnels. Below each mailbox there arevertical some pipes which are provided with a system of valves used for emptying the container, so that the bags with all the residues are conducted by propelling air currents of up to 90 kilometres per hour through underground canal sup to the main head quarter plant which is 1.5 kms away from Pamplona. 

Currently there are 110 boxes scattered around the OldTown, 10 of them are situated in Estafeta St. With the retirement of old containers they have managed to create more space fo rpedestrian traffic, it has minimized the odour problems and removed the noise and pollution from the collection trucks as they no longer circulate in the area.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO RENT A SPOT FROM A PRIVILEGED BALCONY, RIGHT IN THE DEAD MAN CORNER, TO WATCH THE RUNNING OF THE BULLS IN SAN FERMIN FESTIVAL, LOG IN THIS LINK AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED!

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Running and the Bulls

Pamplona´s City Councilis conducting a campaign among Australian, British and New Zealand’sTour Operators in order to prevent the jumping from the Navarrería´s Fountain during the San Fermin Festival.The Council has informed that the will not only repeat the campaign to sensitize about the traditional running on the bulls wearing white clothes or civic behaviours, but maintaining the banof entering any kind of glass (bottles mainly) in the Consistorial Plaza during the Chupinazo. (6th of July)

For the new campaign posters have been published which read 'NO. Donot do it ', inviting not to jump from the Navarrería Fountain. The text is only written in English, since this practice has become common in recent years among some visitors, mainly from Australia, Britain and New Zealand.
In addition the City Hallen courages the runners to wear white clothing in respect to the tradition and as a sign of running in a responsible, safe and correct manner. Among all the usual advices, one of them is to comply the security measures during theRunning of the Bulls which some of them are not touch or mention the bullsnames, get up in case you fall down until the entire herd has pass you by and wear correct and appropriate clothing and footwear.

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Women and the Running of the Bulls

Historically, women hav ealways found it difficult to run with the bulls. Since the 1st of July 1867 an edict was issued that specified fifteen rules for the enclosure (encierro).One was the ban on the elderly, children and women to be on the itinerary. In1974 it was repealed the section precluding the participation of women in bullfightings. However, the Pamplona´s municipal authority continued to preventthe presence of women in the Running of the Bulls and it was in themid-eighties when the presence of women in the Running of the Bulls was not sofrowned upon, so that little by little, the women started running.
The reality is that very few women run in the daily Running of the Bulls. I'm from Pamplona and I don´t know any woman that has run. Last year from the balcony we watched a group of young boys trying to persuade two girls, one of them was too drunk and her body wasn´t in very goodshape. In that case, being a man or a woman is not the issue. The most important thing is that you must be in very good physical condition, to know the route and plan which part you are going to run. Think it twice and consciously.

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Estafeta street balconies, rent balconies

This is the itinerary of the closure. Our balconies are located in Section 3. The closure starts on the Santo Domingo corrals and ends at the end of Estafeta Road where the Bullfight ring is located. The streets through which the closure unfolds are four: Santo Domingo, Plaza Consitorial, Mercaderes and Estafeta. The entire stretch of the closure has a length of 825 meters, which are covered by the mozos (runners) and bulls in an average time of three to four minutes. We have experience exceptional running’s that lasted over ten minutes but these wheremostly when a bull was “descolgado” disoriented and didn´t follow the herd.       

        

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The "Bull dodgers"

In the bullring, apart from the bullfights there are other events, with the corrida vasco-landesa (bullfighting in the French Basque-Landes style) and a competition of young recortadores (bull dodgers) that attract good crowds.
His only weapon is agility and bravery. It is a barahanded fight an a century old tradition. So old almost as first tauromaquias, the cuts appears in first in excess of bulls celebrated on foot, in which they made without layer or with this one rolled .
There are great prizes for the best ones.

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San Fermin Spectacles

Without doubt, in Sanfermines the fiesta belongs outdoors. You can enjoy an enormous range of shows and activities, many of them free of charge. These usually take place every year, but it is a good idea to look at the programme to find out the date and time of each one.

The mornings in the Sanfermines are also full of attractions. On July 6th there is a big folk festival in the Plaza de los Fueros. An exhibition of rural Basque sports is also held in the same square on different days. In the Media Luna park there are representations of Basque culture and every day at 8.30 p.m. there are dances and music from the casas regionales of Spain in the Bosquecillo (behind the Tres Reyes hotel). In the bullring, apart from the bullfights there are other events, with the corrida vasco-landesa (bullfighting in the French Basque-Landes style) and a competition of young recortadores (bull dodgers) that attract good crowds.
Obviously, the night holds a lot in store in terms of shows and displays: the toro de fuego (fire bull), dances, fireworks, concerts, etc. are some of the things that liven up the streets and squares of the centre of Pamplona at night.

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The Bulls "Las mulillas"

This event is also known as the "desfile de caballeros en la plaza (literally, procession of horsemen to the bullring); It is a curious retinue that covers the short distance between the City Hall and the bullring at 5.30p.m. from July 7th to 14th. The caballeros, horsemen dressed in black capes, lead the retinue, followed by two groups of three mulillas (carthorses used to drag the dead bulls from the bull ring) and a total of 14 mulilleros (attendants). The retinue is followed by the city's band 'La Pamplonesa' and, at the rear, anyone who wishes to follow them to the bullring.

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"Las peñas"

"Las peñas" are associations throug wich the members organise activities, predominantly for San Fermin but also for the rest of the year. Most of the Peñas have locals in Jarauta Street. One of their "services" is running vibrant bars where people meet for the corrida, to eat, to drink and dance. They are open almost 24 hours a day. The 17 Peñas that exist are an indispensable part of fiesta.

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Sanfermin,"Poor me"

This is the last official event of the fiesta and takes place on the 14th of july at 24,00 hours. The locals gather in the Consistorial Plaza with candles to say farewell to the party and to begin the count down until the next year.

The Town Mayor gives an official farewell from the Consistorial balcony and encourages everyone to take part again the next year. Meanwhile rockets are fired from Burgos Plaza.Even thoug it is the last official act, the party atmosphere is kept going all night.

The name of the even, wich means poor me, originates from the song that is sung at the event and througt out the night, "pobre de mi, pobre de mi que se han acabao las fiestas de San Fermin", meaning poor me that San Fermin is over.

                              IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO RENT A SPOT FROM A PRIVILEGED BALCONY, RIGHT IN THE DEAD MAN CORNER, TO WATCH THE RUNNING OF THE BULLS IN SAN FERMIN FESTIVAL, LOG IN THIS LINK AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED!

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Pamplona. San Fermín

Pamplona is normally a quiet and recollect town. This changes completelya few minutes before The Chupinazo and continues throughout the duration of the fiesta until the end, which is marked by sing "Pobre de mi" (poor me). People from all walks of life the streets. After the encierro there is a moment of calm but soon after the giants come out to entertain the crouwds.

In certain places in the town, people gather to dance tradicional dances or listen to the brass bands play. The streets take a rest until the Corrida. After that, when de Peñas (social clubs) come out, the streets turn into a bustle os festivity which continues until the morning when the cloc on San Cernin strikes 8 o´clock and the encierro begins.
Afterwich the bars full up with festivity and good vibes once again. 

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The "Apartado"

The event takes place at noon at the bull stalls an is attended by invitation only, distributed at the town hall. It is the moment in wich the bulls are separated fron their brothers fpr the Corrida in the afternoon. Previously the toreros were assigned their bulls by a lottery system. The breeder would put three silver coloured balls in his hat, each containing the number of the bulls, for the toreros to draw.Curious fans observe the course of the ceremony and phisical aspect of the bulls from a small balcony.

The "Apartado" is a social event wich unites the most select of Pamplona´s San Fermín population, politicians, authors, artist, writers, journalist and "handsome people" attend the ceremony to enjoy the on-goings and taste the tradicional pinchos de chistorra (sausage snacks).

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San Fermín, Sanfermines

From July 6th to 14th every year the word fiesta is written in capital letters in Pamplona. The Sanfermines have arrived. When the chupinazo (ceremonial rocket) is fired the city explodes into life. Thousands of people from all over the world descend on the city, which dresses up in red and white. For nine days the streets turn into a feast of friendship, joy, music and non-stop partying, to the rhythm of the charangas and the peñas.

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Virtual "tour" of Encierro

Si pulsas en este Link puedes ver un gráfico del diario EL PAIS que representa virtualmente el recorrido del encierro.

Recorrido virtual del encierro

Defibrillators in Estafeta

Pamplona will have available during the whole San Fermin Festival over two dozen points with defibrillators and trained personnel, thanks to the Lifesaver Project, which proposes that Pamplona will become cardio protected city during the San Fermin fiesta . The initiative was presented this Wednesday at a press conference by the Training and Development Director for the Lifesaver Project. Mr. Francisco Javier Bueno, together with the Geoactiv Development Director, Mr. Diego Bujanda, pointed out that Pamplona will become the first city to be cardio protected during San Fermin Festival.
They have explained that the capital of Navarre, Pamplona will be the first municipality of Spain having defibrillators available throughout the city, following the European recommendations cardio safety.
Therefore, Pamplona during the wholeSan Fermin Festival will have twenty different points of defibrillators and trained personnel to use.

"La casa del Libro". in Estafeta

 They will be located at the Cáritas; Palace Guenduláin Hotel; El Mercado Restaurant , La Casa del Libro (the BookHouse), in Estafeta St, Meson de la Navarrería; Maisonnave Hotel, Anttonenea Restaurant, White Horse Inn (Mesón del Caballo Blanco), Hotel Puerta del Camino, Gran Hotel La Perla, Bokart ; Napardi Gastronomic Society, Chueca Perez Pharmacy, Niza Café, Laura Maeztu Pharmacy ; Café Iruña, and Navarre´s TV Set.
Mr. Bueno has explained that they will create "heart attack save points throughout the city,"so that "if a cardiac arrest occurs at any point in the old town of Pamplona, any one can access a defibrillator in less than four minutes" Furthermore, this initiative will have a mobile application that indicates the location of the nearest defibrillator and the quickest way to reach it, thanks to a geo localizer.

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View the Running of the Bulls from a balcony

If you want to book a balcony to see the Running of the Bulls, you must hurry up!. I think it's very difficult to find places for the 7th and 8th of July already. This year, despite the crisis, the hotel´s owners are very pleased with the bookings. The festival of San Fermin is a major economic boost for the shops, restaurants, bar and and hotels in Pamplona.

Not only it generates employment but also those who have their homes along the itinerary will rent their balconies and get a breath of fresh air in their economy. Pamplona has around 200,000 in habitants but during San Fermin Festival this figure is tripled. So hurry up! If you come to San Fermin you cannot leave without seeing one of the daily Running of the Bulls!.

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The fenced encierro

Today, Monday the 4th of June, the fenced enclosure is starting to be installed from Santo Domingo corrals up to the Bullfight Ring. These works will keep on going until the 6th July when the Chupinazo takes place. Starting on the SantoDomingo Corrals and along the small "encierro2 (encierrillo) itinerary up to the Gas, an army of carpenters will assemble and ensure into the ground nearly 900 posts that hold the 2,700 planks required to make all the itinerary a safe place.

 From today the timbers will be progressively disposed, marking the path for the young men (mozos), bullsand the San Fermin Calendar until the San Fermin Festivities Eve, when the last planks, those located between Estafeta´s and Amaya´s  Streets will be installed.

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Pamplona Choral Society

During these days the Orfeón Pamplonés (Pamplona´s Choir with 102 signers) is visiting New York on "Pamplonés Choir". Today May 31 and the next 1 and 2 June in the Auditorium Lincoln Centerin New York, will be the challenge of Pamplona Orfeón transatlantic in their third tour. TheMaestro Frühbeck de Burgos leads the Orfeón Pamplonés and the New York Philharmonic on Carmina Burana´s, Orff and Atlantis de Falla works.

In October 2010 the Choir Pamplonés became the first Spanish choir to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York.But the fact that they are back in less than two years in the New York Philharmonic is almost more important. They are directed by maestro Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, probably the most international Spanish symphony conductor.The score Carmina Burana, Orff, are always very present in the repertoire of achoir as Orfeón Pamplonés. In addition, Atlantis de Falla, will be the Spanish music chosen to open the three concerts to be held at Avery Fisher Hall. The tickets are already been sold out! GOOD LUCK!

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