Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway in Pamplona
In July of 1923 Ernest Hemingway came from France to know the already popular festivals of San Fermín.
“Pamplona is a swell town, on a plateau in the middle of the Mountains of Navarre. Greatest country you ever saw”, he wrote.
What Hemingway found in Pamplona changed his life forever. The writer gave San Fermin Festivals the definitive push to turn it into one of the most famous fiestas in the world. Hemingway will visit Pamplona on 10 occasions, 9 of them during the Sanfermines.
The sun also rises - Fiesta
Hemingway Route in Pamplona
Son muchos los lugares que recorrió Hemingway en sus visitas a Pamplona. Lo sabemos por las fotografías de la época en las que aparece el escritor, las cartas que escribió a sus amigos o por aparecer en su famosa novela “The sun also rises” traducida como “Fiesta”
Some of these places are already history of Pamplona and have not reached our days as the Hotel Quintana, Casa Marceliano or the Pocholas. Others are emblematic places of the old city.
Hotel La Perla
Hotel with a lot of history that hosted Hemingway on several occasions.
Café Iruña
The oldest café in Pamplona and the most emblematic and beautiful.
Monument to Hemingway
Inaugurated by his widow in 1968.
"I will never be able to do more than Pamplona has done for me".
Myth and reality
Much has been written and talked about Hemingway’s visit to Pamplona. About the places he visited, about what he did… The figure of Hemingway is fascinating because he moves between myth and reality. Everyone has anecdotes about Hemingway in Pamplona. We will never know if they were true or not.
In Pamplona, talking about Hemingway is talking about the gratitude for the worldwide fame that he gave to the festivities, but as well about the huge amount of people that come to the city during those days.
The fame he gave to Pamplona will always be positive. The festivals are a showcase to shout to the world that we have the best festivity in the world.
Would San Fermín be different if Hemingway had not come to Pamplona in 1923? We will never know.
