PAMPLONA - ST. FERMIN FESTIVAL: A TOWN IN RED AND WHITE
St. Fermin Festival takes place in Pamplona (Spain) from July 6 to July 14 in homage of St. Fermin patron of the Navarra region and of the Diocese of Pamplona.
San Fermin was the son of senator Firmus who governed Pamplona in the III century, become a Christian, and was baptized by St. Saturnino, whose memory is dedicated a church of the town.
St. Fermin was a priest in Tolouse (France), come back to Pamplona as a Bishop and was decapitated in the year 303 in Amiens, where he was preaching the Gospel.
In honor of him, Pamplona celebrates an incredible festival which last 9 days no stop. During these days everybody is dressed red and white, the festival's colors, and all over the town red and white seem to be the only colors. The "Encierro" is the most famous and dangerous moment of the St. Fermin Festival. It is known as the "bull run" because men challange the bulls in a crazy race along a 848 meters trail in the meddle of the ancient town's streets, which end in the Plaza de Toros, where in the evening the Corrida has place. During the Festival religious and profane ceremonies mix together, rivers of wine and bear flow, there are rural sport competitions, popular dances, and all night long people dance in the road and out of the pubs.
To know more:
www.pamplona.net (Spanish)
www.turismospagnolo.it (Italian)
Reportage: 97 photos on CD-Rom