San Fermín Festival

Your San Fermín Apartment Isn’t Guaranteed. Navarra Fines the Unregistered Ones Up to €9,000.

Sights & Activities

Calle Santo Domingo’s Shrine Isn’t Ancient. It Started in a Hospital Window in 1970.

Calle Santo Domingo in Pamplona hides a shrine that looks ancient. The city built it in stages, starting with a 1970 hospital window.

Navarra & Northern Spain

Why the Most Traditional Winery in Rioja Has the Region’s Most Futuristic Building

López de Heredia in Haro ferments wine in century-old vats and hired Zaha Hadid to shelter a forgotten 1910 wine kiosk.

History & Culture

Fernando el Católico Didn’t Conquer an Empty Throne. Pamplona Had a Queen, and He Erased Her Name.

Fernando el Católico didn't conquer an empty throne in 1512. Catalina de Navarra was still Navarra's queen, and this is the story of her fall.

Festival Culture & Traditions

Botellón at San Fermín Isn’t Peña Culture. It’s a Separate, Newer Ritual.

Restaurants & Food

Café Iruña Wasn’t Always a Café. For 21 Years, It Was a Bingo Hall.

Restaurants & Food

Restaurante Josetxo Didn’t Close in 2012. It Changed Its Name to Errejota.

Restaurante Josetxo won Navarra's first Michelin star in 1974. It never really closed in 2012, it became Errejota, same family, same Pamplona address.

Navarra & Northern Spain

Día de Navarra Is Not the Anniversary of Navarra’s Autonomy. It’s a 1985 Law About a Missionary Who Died in 1552.

Día de Navarra isn't an autonomy anniversary. It's a 1985 law naming a 16th century missionary's feast day the region's civic day.

Sights & Activities

The “Roman” Aqueduct Outside Pamplona Is Actually Younger Than the United States

History & Culture

A Txistu Has Three Holes and No Keys. It Still Plays Two Full Octaves.

A txistu has three holes and no keys, yet spans two octaves. The 18th century redesign, and Pamplona's own txistu institution since 1960.

July 12, 2026