History: The San Fermin Festival is a combination of three different historic festivals: a livestock fair and exhibition, the San Fermin celebrations (which were originally held in October) and Pamplona's bull-fighting festival. The three events came together for the first time as early as 1591. Letters from the era refer to men on horseback leading bulls through the city in a sporting contest. The event has evolved considerably since, becoming gradually regulated and eventually adopting an official route in 1856. Ernest Hemmingway visited the event in 1920 and set his novel "The Sun Also Rises" in Pamplona. The popularity of the novel and the decreasing costs of international travel put the Running of the Bulls on a global travel map.
FACT FILE
Location: Pamplona, Spain
Name of event: Running of the Bulls
Date of event: 6 - 14 July
Participants: must be over 18
Read more: San Femin
THE RUNNING OF THE BULLS