ART AND CULTURE.

Spain celebrates the Feast of San Firmino, the spectacle of the running of the bulls in Pamplona: photos

Even today in 2023, Spanish traditions are some of the most curious, ancient, and dangerous that can be found in the world. As proof of this, the world-famous San Firmino festival is underway these days in Pamplona, the capital of the Spanish region of Navarre.

This ancient festivity, which is celebrated from July 6 to July 14 each year, is known worldwide thanks to the Encierro, the event in which hundreds of people try to escape the bulls thrown into the race.The Pamplona Bull Run, every year attracts a great deal of controversy both for the exploitation of bulls in bullfights, but also for the number of accidents and injuries witnessed (already 10 these days, and the number is bound to increase).

The Encierros, precisely the bull runs, take place every morning at 8 a.m. and last for 8 days and 12 hours. The images coming from the Iberian Peninsula can be truly spectacular.

ANSA foto
The incredible photos of the running of the bulls in Pamplona 2023
Even today in 2023, Spanish traditions are some of the most curious, ancient and dangerous in the world. As proof of this, the world-famous festival of San Firmino is currently taking place in Pamplona, the capital of the Spanish region of Navarra.
ANSA foto
The incredible photos of the running of the bulls in Pamplona 2023
This ancient festivity, celebrated from 6 July to 14 July each year, is known all over the world thanks to the Encierro, the event in which hundreds of people try to escape the running bulls. The Pamplona Bull Run attracts a great deal of controversy every year, both for the exploitation of bulls in bullfights, but also for the number of accidents and injuries witnessed (already 10 these days, and the number is destined to increase).
ANSA foto
The incredible photos of the running of the bulls in Pamplona 2023
The Encierros take place every morning from 8 a.m. and continue for a total of 8 days and 12 hours. The bullfighters release the bulls from their pens at the appointed time and then start the run from Calle Santo Domingo to the bullfighting arena, the famous Plaza de Toros.
ANSA foto
The incredible photos of the running of the bulls in Pamplona 2023
In terms of race length, we are talking about no more than 850 metres, which wind through the streets of the city and attract several thousand people every year. Between Plaza de Consistorial, Mercaderes Street and the straight section of Telefonica that leads to the bottleneck to Plaza de Toros, it is also not uncommon to witness even serious accidents and, in some cases, even deaths.
ANSA foto
The incredible photos of the running of the bulls in Pamplona 2023
The only condition to participate in the race is to be at least 18 years old. It is thought that the origins of this particular event go back as far as the Middle Ages, when the farmers and cattle breeders of Navarre used to lead the bulls across the meadows to the Plaza Mayor, which predates the Plaza de Toros.
ANSA foto
The incredible photos of the running of the bulls in Pamplona 2023
During the more than 100-year history of this festival, 16 deaths have been recorded (from 1911 to the present day). The most recent death was, unfortunately, a boy of just 27, who was gored by a bull in 2009.
ANSA foto
The incredible photos of the running of the bulls in Pamplona 2023
The various Encierros vary in duration (meaning the common time it takes all the bulls to complete the route). In some years it takes up to 30 minutes for everything to be completed, but sometimes some bulls finish the entire route in a matter of minutes. In 2023 there were already 10 injuries, but the number may not stop there.
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