Pamplona, from the height of a hill, surrounded by a wall that was built under the orders of Felipe II in 1551, seems to have been born with a military vocation. Capital of the Basques since time immemorial it continues to be, for these people, Iruña, in other words, "the city".
The founding of Pamplona is attributed to Pompey and his legions, in the first century B.C..
The gothic Cathedral of Santa María was built by Carlos III in the 15th century. It is inspired by French religious art, although it retains the extreme sober nature of Navarrese gothic style: bare walls and short windows that create a dark atmosphere. In its cloister and other rooms we find 15th century radiant gothic sumptuousness: large and elegant windows, finely carved doors such as the Puerta Preciosa that leads to the dormitory, whose tympanum and lintel contain scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, a chapter room with a stellar vault and the clergymen's refectory with high narrow windows.
The Town Hall
The Town Hall has a baroque façade (1755-60) split into three sections, from bottom to top, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. At the entrance, sculptures of Justice, Prudence and Fame finish off the building. On the lintel of the inner door there is a motto: "the door is open for all, but the heart is open wider".
