Adrenalin Pumping Bull Run in Pamplona

Pamplona is one Spanish city that brings on a rise in any individual’s adrenalin during the special festival of San Fermin. This capital city of Navarre has a meager population of 250,000 but the number of people at Pamplona triples during San Fermin festival.

Times goes by leisurely with the inhabitants enjoying every minute of it in a similar fashion. Pamplona residents are seldom hassled with only the afternoon siestas to be observed. Its position in the Navarre province showcases a rugged Basque terrain with a rich culture and language.

Annual Event

One of Pamplona’s most exciting festivals is the San Fermin which happens in July. Dozens of bulls are released into the designated and cordoned streets to reach the town bullring watched by thousands of people present and through the television.

All sorts of people come to Pamplona from all across the globe in earnest participation of this festival which is held in honor of Saint Fermin, a local saint. During the 8-9 days of San Fermin, bulls are released to the streets with huge crowds in positions at the sidewalks and windows. There would be hundreds of runners who would position themselves in front before the bulls are released. Their participation would be one unique experience in their life time.

It is a dangerous participation which pumps the adrenalin high as the runners participate in this risky endeavor through Pamplona’s long and narrow streets. These runs reflect the medieval times when regional herdsmen drove their bulls through city streets into the local bull ring for the traditional bullfighting event which has long been an ancient Spanish tradition.

Electrifying Atmosphere

The atmosphere is electrifying as the tension builds up every morning of San Fermin festival. Young and excited runners as well as veteran ones prepare to run the route again to outrun the bulls before they reach the bullring.

As a precaution, sufficient safety personnel like police, medical personnel and ambulances are positioned to handle any undesirable incidents during the festival. The atmosphere is soon filled with screams, shouts and yells as observing crowds encourage the runners along their way. The beasts can each be as heavy as 1200 lbs to crush any body easily if outrun or pushed along the way.

The city streets go raucous with cheers as the bulls enter the ring for another great event yet to happen. Skilled matadors risk their lives and reputation for this event to the cheers of the crowd as they face a ferocious bull in the ring.