Spend a few moments studying an important symbol of Pamplona, a large sculpture that celebrates the city’s world-famous bull run.
The Monumento al Encierro is a life-size bronze sculpture that pays tribute to the annual running of the bulls in Pamplona. Every July during the San Fermín fiesta hundreds of people run alongside and in front of fighting bulls as the animals charge through the city's cobbled streets. Walk around the monument and examine it from all sides.
Several bull runs take place during the fiesta. They start in the morning with the firing of two rockets which signal that the corral has been opened and the bulls released. The animals then charge along a 2,871-foot (875-meter) route, which usually takes between 3 and 4 minutes to complete.
Find the work of art in the center of the city close to the bullring. It was created by Spanish sculptor Rafael Huerta in the 1990s but was expanded in 2007. The monument features a group of young men attempting to herd several charging bulls along the event's route. This iconic work is 36 feet (11 meters) long and 13 feet (4 meters) wide and is mounted on a tile-covered platform of reinforced concrete.
The Monumento al Encierro captures and freezes in time a moment of high drama and excitement with the runners sensing the proximity of the bulls behind them. Some of the men have fallen to the ground. As you study the bronze carvings, see the anguish etched on their faces. Every year, dozens of people are injured during the runs
Note also how the artist’s skill has created a dynamic sculpture that portrays the power of the animals as they move.
The Monumento al Encierro is located on the Avenida de Roncesvalles which leads up to the city's bullring. It is easily accessible by public transportation. While you are in the neighborhood, go on a guided or self-guided tour of the bullring. Learn about its history, walk on the central arena and visit the chapel where matadors pray before entering the ring.
