Palacio Guendulain

Delegación del Gobierno

by mikey_e

Every regional capital in Spain has a Delegación del Gobierno, which is sort of like the office of the central government in the city with the task of liaising with the regional authorities. The Delegación del Gobierno en Navarra is sort of funny in that the building in which it is housed had a number of architects, and the changes in architects were generally politically motivated. The building was started in 1934 by a Republican, who changed his plans when the Civil War broke out. Given that Navarre was largely in favour of the Fascists, he was replaced during the War by a Navarrese supporter of Franco, who was eventually replaced by an architect from Madrid, who finished the façade. The building eventually came out of this rapid turnover in 1945 with the same sort of austere Classical style as the Monumento a los Caídos, except with sloping and pointed mansards. Altogether, it helps to reinforce the gloomier aspects of the Segundo Ensanche, and area that should breathe life and leisure like the Ensanches in other Spanish cities.

The Walls

by mikey_e

Pamplona’s ramparts and defensive walls are quite impressive, especially if you make the long trek up from the train station (which is, obviously, lower down in the new quarters) by foot. As you wind your way up to the old town, you gradually come to face with incredibly well-maintained late Mediaeval fortified walls. In fact, both you and the street traffic will have to pass through the gate in order to be able to reach the historic centre of town. They were erected in the 16th century as part of an Italian plan for the fortification and protection of the city (that is, it was taken from the Italians, not implemented by the Italians). These parts of the walls have remained intact and are quite well maintained as tourist attractions, but the opposite end of the enclosed area was opened up in the 19th century in order to make way for the Primer Ensanche, which extends past the Paseo de Sarasate to the south-west and the citadel. The army insisted on keeping these standing, and it was likely practical to do so, as it would have been too problematic to build housing down the side of the mountain. Good views of the walls and the gates can be had from the Jardines de la Taconera, or otherwise from the newer city below.

Pamplona

by reinansanc

"BULLS !!"

You have to go and you have to run with the Bulls ... try to get the hostel that is on the path the bulls run on. It is illegal because it is actually a school house so if the guy running it is still there take advantage just be ready to sleep on the floor next to desks piled up in the corner with about 40 other nuts that want to run with the bulls after drinking all night long !!