Taking a tour of Pamplona's old town is a great way to immerse yourself in the history and culture of this charming city in Navarre, Spain. Here I present a possible route you can follow:
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Castle plaza: Start your tour at Plaza del Castillo, which is the heart of the city and a popular meeting point for locals and visitors. Here you will find cafes, restaurants and shops, and you can enjoy the lively atmosphere of the square.
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Estafeta Street: From Plaza del Castillo, head towards the famous Estafeta Street. This street is known throughout the world for being the most exciting stretch of the San Fermín running of the bulls, which are held every year in July. Stroll along this picturesque street and admire the colorful buildings and traditional shops.
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Bullring: Continue your route until you reach the Pamplona Bullring, one of the main symbols of the city. You can visit the interior of the plaza to learn more about the history of bullfighting in Pamplona.
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Cathedral of Santa María: Head towards St. Mary's Cathedral, an impressive Gothic building dating back to the 14th century. Explore its interior and admire its beautiful stained glass windows and altarpieces. You can also climb the cathedral tower to enjoy panoramic views of the city.
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San Nicolás Street and Town Hall Square: Continue your tour along San Nicolás Street, a narrow and picturesque street that will take you to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. In this square, you can admire the imposing City Hall building and the statue of San Fermín, the patron saint of Pamplona.
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Church of San Saturnino: End your route by visiting the Church of San Saturnino, a Romanesque building from the 13th century. This church is known for its curious tradition of the "cabezudos", which consists of parading with giants and big heads during the festivities.
Distance: 1,8 km. Circular
PRACTICAL TIPS
-The old town of Pamplona is pedestrian, generally very clean and safe, even at night. There are plenty of bars and restaurants, its streets are usually very lively, especially on weekends and Thursdays, when certain streets celebrate the popular "juevintxo", in which they serve a drink and pintxo at a reasonable price.
-The cathedral is the jewel of the city and we recommend its visit, with special attention to the cloister. Please note that it is closed on Sundays. SPRING – SUMMER SCHEDULE. From the last week of March, from Monday to Saturday. Sunday closed. Opening: 10:30 a.m. Last access and box office closing: 18:00 p.m. Closing: 19:00 p.m. (the evacuation of the rooms begins 15 minutes before closing). AUTUMN – WINTER SCHEDULE. From the last week of October, from Monday to Saturday. Sunday closed. Opening: 10:30 a.m. Last access and box office closing: 16:00 p.m. Closing: 17:00 p.m. (the evacuation of the rooms begins 15 minutes before closing).
-To park your vehicle we recommend the underground parking lots in the Plaza de Toros, El Baluarte or the Plaza del Castillo. You cannot park, unless you are a neighbor, neither the old town nor nearby areas.
RECOMMENDED VISITS
IRUÑA COFFEE
ACTIVITY: ENJOY THE PINCHO
In the Plaza del Castillo, a meeting place for the people of Pamplona, is Café Iruña, a cafe, bar and restaurant that has the honor of being one of the oldest in Pamplona and probably the most beautiful of all. Opened in 1888, it preserves its elaborate original decoration, in a romantic style, a symbol of another era.
GUIDED VISIT TO THE BULL PLACE
PRICE OF THE ACTIVITY: €6 PER PERSON
The end of the bullfighting route is the monumental Pamplona Bullring, the fourth largest in the world in terms of capacity, and which opens its doors so that visitors can feel the emotion of one of its most dangerous sections, when the bulls cross the narrow passage of the alley and enter a square filled with people and runners.
CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARÍA
It is the jewel of the city and its visit is almost obligatory. After crossing the neoclassical façade we will see an imposing Gothic temple (28th and XNUMXth centuries) XNUMX meters high. The visit includes the cloister with its fine tracery, the kitchen, the refectory and the “Occidens” exhibition.