A Baroque Masterpiece: Pamplona’s City Hall
City Hall of Pamplona
Image | Fran Glaria
Pamplona might be best known for its annual Festival of San Fermin and its tradition of the Running of the Bulls, but the architecture holds a strong place in the heart of its citizens and its visitors alike. This beautiful baroque building was constructed in the 1600s in order to replace our old city hall. Its location was not a coincidence. Back then, this square was the exact center of the city.
Law represented allegorically by a woman with a sword.
Image | Fran Glaria
In the façade you will find several sculptures that represent the values of a good city hall. At the door, we are welcomed by two ladies. The one with the sword represents Law. The other one, holding a mirror, represents Prudence. When a mayor makes a decision, they always have to be following the law. But as we know, the law can be interpreted in different ways. So a good mayor has to be prudent and rule in favor of the people. To do that, the mayor needs to hold a mirror that faces the people, not him.
Dear Prudence…
Image | Fran Glaria
One curiosity—at the feet of the two sculptures, you will find two versions of Pamplona’s sea level altitude: one considering it from the Mediterranean Sea and the other from the Atlantic Ocean. Notice that they are a bit different. Spain is tilted towards the Mediterranean.
At the highest level of the façade, you will find two men who look like baseball players. Obviously, they are not. They are both Hercules, representing Strength. Once the mayor makes a right decision they have to be strong to implement it.
Symbols of Strength and Strength stand atop City Hall.
Image | Fran Glaria
To finish, at the very top of City Hall you will find a lady with a trumpet who represents Success. If you follow the law and you are prudent and strong, for sure you will succeed.
At the jamb of the front door, engraved in stone, so we never forget, we have a sentence in Latin that welcomes everybody in town: patet omnibus janua cor valde magis, which means “the doors are open, but even more the heart.”
Words of welcome above City Hall’s entryway
Image | Fran Glaria
On the second-floor balcony, you will find our official flags (from left to right):
- The full green with a lion in the middle, represents the city of Pamplona
- The red one with some chains, represents the state of Navarre.
- The one with three horizontal lines (red, yellow and red) represents Spain.
- The blue one with the yellow stars is the European Union flag.
Image | Fran Glaria
Since Pamplona’s city hall is not open to the public, you can check out this video to take a virtual tour with me.
If you want to discover Pamplona and much more, join our Basque Country tour.
