As the clock struck 8 am on Saturday, the streets of Pamplona were awash with a sea of white and red as thousands of participants, dressed in the traditional white clothes and red scarves, gathered to take part in the running of the bulls - the climactic event of the nine-day San Fermin festival.
The festival, which has its roots in the 16th century, is a celebration of the city's patron saint, San Fermin, and features a diverse array of events, including concerts, religious processions, and plenty of wine-fueled revelry. However, the main attraction remains the daily bull runs, where participants race alongside six heavy fighting bulls, some weighing over 600 metric tons, through the narrow streets of the city center. ,
During the intense three-minute sprint, the runners attempt to get as close as possible to the beasts, testing their agility and nerve in a display of sheer bravado. The run culminates in the Pamplona bullring, where the bulls are later killed by matadors in the afternoon bullfights - a practice that has drawn the ire of animal rights activists who decry the medieval cruelty of the event.
Despite the inherent dangers, the festival has become a global phenomenon, with the running of the bulls being immortalized in Ernest Hemingway's classic novel The Sun Also Rises. The author's vivid descriptions of the event have helped cement Pamplona's reputation as a must-visit destination for thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies from around the world.
On Sunday, the third day of the festival, at least two runners were injured during the bull run, with one participant gored and five others suffering bruising. Since 1924, the event has claimed the lives of 16 individuals, the last fatality occurring in 2009.
As the festival continues, the streets of Pamplona will continue to echo with the thunderous hooves of the bulls and the exhilarated cries of the runners, captivating audiences both near and far with its unique blend of tradition, danger, and sheer spectacle. , , , [4]
