San Fermin Festival 2012 - Experience the Running of the Bulls!

04.07.2012 08:48

Barcelonan tapahtumat

You are in Barcelona and you have experienced all the charms the city holds you want something more? Something that is famous and something your friends will envy you for! Why not run with the bulls in Pamplona?

Do not be shocked because this legendary event is taking place this weekend and if you are in Barcelona on holiday, the bulls are a few hours away!

“Visitors are in for a treat as the festival promises an adrenaline-pumping experience.”

4 more days to go to San Fermin, the most unique and traditional festival in the city of Pamplona (Navarre, Spain). The festival of San Fermin is a deeply rooted celebration originating from two different medieval events, one commercial and the other religious ceremonies in honor of Saint Fermin, the co-patron of Navarre. It is held annually starting at noon on 6 July, with the opening ceremony of the fiesta marked by launching the chupinazo, a pyrotechnic rocket that’s set off from a city hall balcony. After a week of partying, the festival ends at midnight of the 14 July with a beautiful candle lit closing ceremony with the singing of the traditional mournful notes of Pobre de Mí ('Poor Me').

Starting from 8:00 AM from July 7th to July 14th, the week-long celebration involves many traditional and folkloric events including Basque dancing, music, cultural sports, international firework competitions and live concerts. Additionally, one of the most important events in this week is the encierro (the running of the bulls) which is a unique spectacle impossible to see in any other place in the world. After the launching of two rockets, 12 bulls (6 wild toro bravo bulls and 6 tamed bulls) are through the old city’s streets charging behind the runners from the corral to the bullring which is equivalent to 825 meters.

This festival has become internationally known because of Ernest Hemingway’s fondness of bullfights and bull runs as the events of San Fermin were the center of the plot of his novel The Sun Also Rises, which brought it to the general attention of English-speaking people. It has become one of the most internationally renowned fiesta in Spain as over 1,000,000 people attend it. This is the place to go if you’re up for a once-in-a-lifetime exceptional trip for a genuinely memorable time.

For visitors from Barcelona:

By Coach: the coach company traveling to Pamplona is called Vibasa.

By Train: the Alvia and Arco are the fastest models taking up to 4 hours, tickets can be obtained online via RENFE.

And if you’re not thrilled enough, we guarantee an instant rush of excitement after you see this video, Why your mom won’t let you go to celebrate San Fermin.

For more information you can check the official website.