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Learning Spanish in Pamplona. The tourist guide to study your Spanish course.
General Information. 198,000 inhabitants. 450 kilometres to the north of Madrid. It is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Navarre. Pamplona was founded in 74 BC by the Roman general Pompey. It is situated on a fertile plain in the middle of a basin, 450 metres above sea level, and is surrounded by mountains rising to an altitude of approximately 1,000 metres. With an economy based on services, industry and commerce, Pamplona has earned a nationwide reputation as a leader in the spheres of higher education and public health. It is also renowned for its gastronomy, which makes the most of an extensive and select group of locally grown produce, as well as for its wide range of bars and restaurants. Pamplona is on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela (Camino de Santiago) and is famous throughout the world for its Fiesta de Sanfermines and the "running of the bulls". Pamplona is home to the University of Navarre, a private institution founded in 1952, with associated IESE Business Schools in Barcelona and Madrid, which offer prestigious MBA programmes. The other major university in Pamplona is the Universidad Pública de Navarra, founded in 1987. Pamplona is a very attractive place to study Spanish with many language schools offering a wide range of courses.
Surrounding Areas. Mendigorría (28 kilometres), with important archaeological excavations. Estella (43 kilometres away in the same direction) is an attractive town with a history stretching back 900 years and beautiful surrounding countryside. Roncesvalles (50 kilometres), very near the border with France and the starting point of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. San Sebastián (80 kilometres), a city on the north coast.
Main Sights. The Gothic-style Cathedral of St. Mary (Catedral de Santa María), the Church of St. Saturninus (Iglesia de San Saturnino), the Church of St. Nicholas (Iglesia de San Nicolás), the Citadel (Ciudadela) and the 13th century General Auditing Office (Cámara de Comptos Reales), all of which have been declared National Sites of Cultural Interest. Other sights include: the city walls, built in 1512; Castle Square (Plaza del Castillo); the 18th century Town Hall building (Ayuntamiento); Palacio de Navarra, a Neoclassical palace built between 1840 and 1850, and currently the headquarters of the regional government; Monumento a los Fueros de Navarra (a statue dedicated to the medieval charters under which Navarre received certain rights and privileges), situated on Paseo de Sarasate. Pamplona has numerous gardens and parks, including La Taconera, the oldest park in the city (19th century), Parque de la Media Luna, which offers magnificent views of the surrounding area, Parque de Yamaguchi, with its Oriental design, and Parque de Tejería.
Culture. The most important cultural events are the Pamplona Cinema Festival (first fortnight of October) and Electro Pop Pamplona (February). As for museums, it is worth highlighting the Museum of Navarre (Museo de Navarra) and the Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano), while the General Archive of Navarre (Archivo General de Navarra) and the General Library of Navarre (Biblioteca General de Navarra) are also of interest. The most important cultural venues include a theatre (Teatro Gayarre) an auditorium/conference hall (Auditorio Palacio de Congresos Baluarte) and the Civivox cultural centres, which are run by the local council. Exhibition halls such as Los Pabellones de Ciudadela and Sala Descalzos 72 are devoted to contemporary art. The Planetarium (El Planetario), situated in Parque Yamaguchi, offers the visitors a fascinating insight into the world of astronomy and the mysteries of the universe.
Shopping. The main shopping areas in Pamplona are El Ensanche and the old quarter, although there are also plenty of shops to choose from in the Iturrama, San Juan, Rochapea and Chantrea neighbourhoods. The most important shopping centres are Itaroa and La Morea.
Gastronomy. In this part of the country, tapas go by the name of pintxos, and the best areas for sampling these lovingly prepared bar snacks in Pamplona are El Ensanche and the old quarter, Calle de San Nicolás, Calle Estafeta and Plaza del Castillo. The region also boasts a wealth of local produce, the following vegetables being among the most highly prized: asparagus, artichokes, broad beans, cardoons, borage, and spicy long red peppers called pimientos de piquillo. The most typical dishes include pochas a la navarra (a white haricot bean and vegetable stew) trucha a la navarra (fried trout stuffed with dry-cured ham), cordero al chilindrón (braised lamb with red peppers and tomatoes) and game stews. There are also several delicious milk-based desserts, such as cuajada (junket). The region of Navarre produces various good wines with designation of origin and some excellent cheeses, such as Roncal and Idiazábal.
Sports. Club Atlético Osasuna, the local first division football team, play their home games at the Reyno de Navarra stadium. Pamplona also has a five-a-side football team, MRA Navarra, in the national first division. The main sporting facilities are the Pabellón Multiusos, a multi-purpose sports arena where you can play or learn almost any sport, and two other sports halls, the Pabellón de la Universidad Pública de Navarra and the Pabellón Anaitasuna. Pamplona has numerous frontones, the special pelota courts where the Basque Country's most traditional ball game is played by professionals and amateurs alike. There are four gold courses within easy reach of the city.
Fiestas. People come from all over the world to take part in Pamplona's most representative and internationally famous fiesta, popularly known as "los Sanfermines"; the celebrations begin when the inaugural rocket (chupinazo) is let off from the Town Hall balcony at midday on 6th July, and come to an end on the evening of 14th July with a mass rendition of the traditional song of farewell, Pobre de Mí ("Poor Old Me"). These fiestas are famous for the "running of the bulls"; every morning at eight o'clock sharp, several hundred runners (mozos) eagerly await the release of six fighting bulls from their pen. Once the gate opens, the bulls and runners proceed to rush through the streets of the old town and into the bullring, which marks the end of the route. It was the American author Ernest Hemingway (Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature) who brought this event to the attention of the outside world; he paid his first visit on 6th July 1923, just as the fiesta was getting under way, and would return on a further eight occasions.
Nightlife. Students who decide to study Spanish in Pamplona will discover a very active nightlife, thanks to the city's university atmosphere. The liveliest areas at night are the old quarter, Plaza del Castillo, Calle Estafeta and Calle Navarrería. The student crowd tends to congregate in the San Juan and Iturrama neighbourhoods, where there are several discotheques that stay open all night. The college life is a major attraction for the many students who decide to study Spanish in Pamplona.
Surrounding Areas. Mendigorría (28 kilometres), with important archaeological excavations. Estella (43 kilometres away in the same direction) is an attractive town with a history stretching back 900 years and beautiful surrounding countryside. Roncesvalles (50 kilometres), very near the border with France and the starting point of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. San Sebastián (80 kilometres), a city on the north coast.
Main Sights. The Gothic-style Cathedral of St. Mary (Catedral de Santa María), the Church of St. Saturninus (Iglesia de San Saturnino), the Church of St. Nicholas (Iglesia de San Nicolás), the Citadel (Ciudadela) and the 13th century General Auditing Office (Cámara de Comptos Reales), all of which have been declared National Sites of Cultural Interest. Other sights include: the city walls, built in 1512; Castle Square (Plaza del Castillo); the 18th century Town Hall building (Ayuntamiento); Palacio de Navarra, a Neoclassical palace built between 1840 and 1850, and currently the headquarters of the regional government; Monumento a los Fueros de Navarra (a statue dedicated to the medieval charters under which Navarre received certain rights and privileges), situated on Paseo de Sarasate. Pamplona has numerous gardens and parks, including La Taconera, the oldest park in the city (19th century), Parque de la Media Luna, which offers magnificent views of the surrounding area, Parque de Yamaguchi, with its Oriental design, and Parque de Tejería.
Culture. The most important cultural events are the Pamplona Cinema Festival (first fortnight of October) and Electro Pop Pamplona (February). As for museums, it is worth highlighting the Museum of Navarre (Museo de Navarra) and the Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano), while the General Archive of Navarre (Archivo General de Navarra) and the General Library of Navarre (Biblioteca General de Navarra) are also of interest. The most important cultural venues include a theatre (Teatro Gayarre) an auditorium/conference hall (Auditorio Palacio de Congresos Baluarte) and the Civivox cultural centres, which are run by the local council. Exhibition halls such as Los Pabellones de Ciudadela and Sala Descalzos 72 are devoted to contemporary art. The Planetarium (El Planetario), situated in Parque Yamaguchi, offers the visitors a fascinating insight into the world of astronomy and the mysteries of the universe.
Shopping. The main shopping areas in Pamplona are El Ensanche and the old quarter, although there are also plenty of shops to choose from in the Iturrama, San Juan, Rochapea and Chantrea neighbourhoods. The most important shopping centres are Itaroa and La Morea.
Gastronomy. In this part of the country, tapas go by the name of pintxos, and the best areas for sampling these lovingly prepared bar snacks in Pamplona are El Ensanche and the old quarter, Calle de San Nicolás, Calle Estafeta and Plaza del Castillo. The region also boasts a wealth of local produce, the following vegetables being among the most highly prized: asparagus, artichokes, broad beans, cardoons, borage, and spicy long red peppers called pimientos de piquillo. The most typical dishes include pochas a la navarra (a white haricot bean and vegetable stew) trucha a la navarra (fried trout stuffed with dry-cured ham), cordero al chilindrón (braised lamb with red peppers and tomatoes) and game stews. There are also several delicious milk-based desserts, such as cuajada (junket). The region of Navarre produces various good wines with designation of origin and some excellent cheeses, such as Roncal and Idiazábal.
Sports. Club Atlético Osasuna, the local first division football team, play their home games at the Reyno de Navarra stadium. Pamplona also has a five-a-side football team, MRA Navarra, in the national first division. The main sporting facilities are the Pabellón Multiusos, a multi-purpose sports arena where you can play or learn almost any sport, and two other sports halls, the Pabellón de la Universidad Pública de Navarra and the Pabellón Anaitasuna. Pamplona has numerous frontones, the special pelota courts where the Basque Country's most traditional ball game is played by professionals and amateurs alike. There are four gold courses within easy reach of the city.
Fiestas. People come from all over the world to take part in Pamplona's most representative and internationally famous fiesta, popularly known as "los Sanfermines"; the celebrations begin when the inaugural rocket (chupinazo) is let off from the Town Hall balcony at midday on 6th July, and come to an end on the evening of 14th July with a mass rendition of the traditional song of farewell, Pobre de Mí ("Poor Old Me"). These fiestas are famous for the "running of the bulls"; every morning at eight o'clock sharp, several hundred runners (mozos) eagerly await the release of six fighting bulls from their pen. Once the gate opens, the bulls and runners proceed to rush through the streets of the old town and into the bullring, which marks the end of the route. It was the American author Ernest Hemingway (Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature) who brought this event to the attention of the outside world; he paid his first visit on 6th July 1923, just as the fiesta was getting under way, and would return on a further eight occasions.
Nightlife. Students who decide to study Spanish in Pamplona will discover a very active nightlife, thanks to the city's university atmosphere. The liveliest areas at night are the old quarter, Plaza del Castillo, Calle Estafeta and Calle Navarrería. The student crowd tends to congregate in the San Juan and Iturrama neighbourhoods, where there are several discotheques that stay open all night. The college life is a major attraction for the many students who decide to study Spanish in Pamplona.
© TEXT: SPANISH IN TOUR.
VIDEO: Patronato de Turismo de Pamplona
VIDEO: Patronato de Turismo de Pamplona
