Navarra has to be seen to be understood or even believed. It is a land that is characterised by the contrasts that make it a reality: from the high mountain passes of the Pyrenean region to the wide open plains to the south; from the rich gastronomy to the self-proclaimed madness of the Fiesta of San Fermín.
The community occupies over 10,421 km2 and is intimately associated with its neighbour: Aragón to the east, La Rioja to the south and the Pais Vascos to the west. To the north it also shares over 163 kilometres with France.
This autonomous community is rich in natural areas that are untouched by human development and it is home to a wide range of ecosystems ranging from alpine and steppe in the north, humid and rocky plains further south and all this stitched together by virgin forests and crystal clear lakes.
Any visitor soon understands that Navarra is steeped in historya and packed with architectural and archaeological wonders. It also has a streak of sheer madness that breaks surface, exposing the real and uninhibited Navarrese character, once a year in a festival (the festival of the Sanfermines held between the 6th and 14th of July) of hedonistic excess and debauchery that culminates in the bull run; a mad dash, that really is for life, through streets too narrow for those who just want to watch.
The object of such unseemly haste is to avoid the sharp horns of young confused bulls that, it can be safely argued, have a justifiable case to be quite angry.
And if survival, or minimal physical harm is achieved, the happy participants go on to watch bull fights, get roaring drunk and sing maudlin songs about how sad their lot is in life – its brilliant, pure genius!
But Navarra isn’t all about mad bulls and getting tight. It also boasts magnificent architecture, picturesque villages and ancient monasteries, churches and castles. Pamplona, or Iruña, once a noble fortified citadel, now transformed into a modern industrial city that still preserves its ancient heart, is typical of this.
Iruña has been the capital city of the region since the 10th century when Navarra was a Kingdom.
Nowadays, beautiful boulevards stitch together high rise tower blocks and industrial areas that surround the ancient heart of the city, in which the Palacio de Navarra, a testament to the city’s Royal heritage (and which unfortunately can only be visited by appointment only tel: 34 948 107 000), the Plaza de Santa Maria La Real, near the city walls and the 14th century cathedral are only a taste of the wonderful heritage that the city is able to demonstrate.
The northernmost zone of Navarra is characterised by heather covered rolling hills that give way to forests of conifers and oak. The area is on the southern flank of the Pyrenees and the climate is temperate with frequent rain.
The astounding natural beauty of this northern area lends itself to tranquil forest walks and serene meditation.
The valley of Roncal is particularly beautiful and its attraction is enhanced by the fame of the sheep’s cheese that is produced here.
Roncesvalles, the mythical final battle ground of the legendary knight Roland is, above all, a collection of monastic buildings whose original purpose was to assist the many pilgrims on the walk along the road to Santiago de Compostela.
Supposedly, in medieval times as many as 25,000 visitors a day passed through here.
In the most eastern part of the province the Natural Park of Señorío de Bertiz, which is a magnificently conserved Atlantic forest, benefits from a climate in which extremes of temperature are rare. Villages such as Vera de Bidasoa, which has a pretty old town and Donamaria, with the 15th century town house of Jaureguia, are well worth stopping and contemplating.
The division of Navarra is almost a natural one with the northern temperate zone giving way to a central and southern zone that is characterised by many contrasts; flat and mountainous areas, humidity and drought and forests and steppes.
The many typical villages, such as Estella, literally breathe history. In this latter case mainly because of its strategic importance along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela; Tafalla with its medieval wells; Olite with a castle dating from the 13th Century and which is now a Parador, Sangűesa with a 12th century church and impressive castle in whose dependence the latter day Saint Francisco Javier was born in 1506 are only some of the examples of this area, a region that is stuffed with many invaluable treasures of architecture and vivid journey through history.
Gastronomy
The added bonus of the marvellous food and good wine only helps to make a trip through Navarra one of the most exquisite for all the senses. It’s so good in fact that a well known gastronomy guide when asked to provide a recommendation for a restaurant that was worth a journey commented that the whole country was worth recommending. In other words, if you want to eat well, visit Navarra.
Navarra has to be seen to be understood or even believed. It is a land that is characterised by the contrasts that make it a reality: from the high mountain passes of the Pyrenean region to the wide open plains to the south; from the rich gastronomy to the self-proclaimed madness of the Fiesta of San Fermín. 
The object of such unseemly haste is to avoid the sharp horns of young confused bulls that, it can be safely argued, have a justifiable case to be quite angry.
The northernmost zone of Navarra is characterised by heather covered rolling hills that give way to forests of conifers and oak. The area is on the southern flank of the Pyrenees and the climate is temperate with frequent rain. 
The many typical villages, such as Estella, literally breathe history. In this latter case mainly because of its strategic importance along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela; Tafalla with its medieval wells; Olite with a castle dating from the 13th Century and which is now a Parador, Sangűesa with a 12th century church and impressive castle in whose dependence the latter day Saint Francisco Javier was born in 1506 are only some of the examples of this area, a region that is stuffed with many invaluable treasures of architecture and vivid journey through history.
