The San Fermin Festival is celebrated annually for nine days in the city of Pamplona, Spain from July 6-July 14. The festival is celebrated in honour of San Fermin, the patron saint of the town, but the religious aspect has taken a secondary role over the last number of years.

Revellers travel from all over the world just to partake in the Running of the Bulls, which started 400 years ago. The participants run ahead of these creatures every morning of the festival at 8am. Spectators and runners have to adhere to some minimal rules as this is the most dangerous part of the festival.

Afternoons are spent watching matadors display their skills at the bullfights. As the arena only holds 12,500 people, tickets for the bullfights are usually sold out well in advance. Nights are usually spent partying as the town erupts into an enormous party with giant puppets accompanied by brass bands parading the streets.

The 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises by American writer Ernest Hemingway contributed to the notoriety the festival has developed today as it introduced the festival to the world.

Related Article: » Bull Madness