Yesterday, Saturday, we had decided to go to Pamplona. Seeing as it was not time for the Festival of San Fermin (The Running of the Bulls-that only happens in July and a smaller local version in October) we knew it was going to be relatively quiet and not crowded. I wondered if Pamplona could offer us something more.
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| Clouds forming on the mountainside. It was another overcast and gloomy day. |
Pamplona is a charming little city. While we didn't make it a priority to see the course that the bulls raced through into town, we knew we did want to experience the local flavor. I found it to be very clean and very colorful, with a lot of energy and vibrancy. Our hotel manager, Isabel, had remarked that Pamplona was a nice place to visit.
And it was.
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| Wonderful color combinations |
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| in the Square of San Francisco |
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| in the main city square |
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| Government Building |
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| Roof detail on top of the government offices |
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| Nuns |
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| Storefront |
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| We can buy Basque mummers :) |
Walking through the city we came upon a huge cathedral, which we had not expected or planned on visiting. One would think after going through so many on our trip we would tire of them, but there is always a bit of mystery and majesty involved in these awesome structures.
The Cathedral of Pamplona is a beautiful church. It is the Bishop's seat of the church and is the center of the Catholic church for the Navarre people. It is an exquisite example of Gothic architecture in all of Spain and stands regarded as one of the best in Europe.
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| Cathedral |
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| One of the many capillas on each side of the church |
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| Loved all of the hand-painted handiwork |
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| Ceiling detail. One of these rosettes was at every juncture. |
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| Seeing as most of the church was built in the 14th-15th c. I was surprised at the condition of the decorative elements. I wondered if they had been refurbished. |
The Cloisters
At this point I meet up again with the children. Bump says "Mom! You HAVE to see the rest of this!" Doe agreed, saying "Mom. Mom. You need to just drop what you're doing and go check out through there" and she pointed behind her and to the left.
This was the cloisters. Cloisters were usually square or quadrangle courtyards with an area of grass or forest in the center. The use of these cloisters were usually for the monks to live in while studying in seminary or serving in the church.
It was so peaceful and serene. I was thankful that the cloisters was relatively unattended and I could walk alone for a bit.
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| Inside the cloisters were all of these evergreens and a small fountain. |
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| They found me which was good because I wanted to get a picture of them in this magical place. |
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| Barbazana Chapel |
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| There is a current archaelogical dig going on right now. The cathedral is built on a site that dates back to 700-800 B.C. |
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| Some of the recovered mosaics |
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| Gold jewelry dating back to 900 B.C. |
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| Some coins |
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Translated: "A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a garden enclosed, its fountain sealed"
(some say this a reference to the Immaculate Conception) |
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| Some of the beautiful silver and brass crosses unearthed from the Cathedral of St Mary |
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| Alabaster Virgin |
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| A museum installation which explains the Muslims taking over Spain. The clouds form on an invisible horizon and then as the music deepens, transform into horses as the story is told on screen of a Muslim invasion. |
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| Beautiful wooden Mother and Child |
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| smaller cloister adjoining the cloister's kitchen |
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| Water feature |
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| The Refectory |
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| Wooden inlay at the entrance of the Refrectory |
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| Inside the monastery's kitchen. Each of the four corners had chimney built into the stonework, with a massive flue in the center of the room. |
I thought Toledo would be the be and end all of Spanish cathedrals for me, but truthfully I really enjoyed this particular piece of history. The Cathedral of St Mary of Pamplona has a much more humbled and less austere feel to it, and you could sense that in its church. Brightly maintained and heavily painted, it did not leave one feeling cold or at a disconnect. I found the paintings and the ornamentation much more intimate and charming. Possibly the existence of a monastery and cloisters on site helped to make the church much more approachable.
The Cloisters of the Cathedral of Saint Mary's remains one of my favorite places ever visited.
It was a wonderful experience.
Please if you are traveling through the Basque region, do not hesitate to stop in Pamplona. Even if you want to go only to risk your health and Run with the Bulls, go also for the environment. It's rich colors and wonderful street life make it a must-see for the traveler.
Here is a link if you want to experience it for yourself:
www.catedraldepamplona.com/es/columbario/
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