Well, some people may think we are ‘on holiday’ but ‘mooching about’ Pamplona is proving hard work. This is our first visit to the town and so finding our way round is one of the challenges. The weather has also been very variable and as our second day was forecast to be damp it was a good day to spend indoors.
The Museum of Navarre
This beautiful museum is close to the Hotel Catedral where we were staying and we spent 1.5 hours there. It has multiple floors with a progression through time and it is beautifully laid out. Pieces are not crowded together, and ideas are simply represented. Please do visit if you are in Pamplona.
The Romans
There is an interesting section on prehistoric remains in the area but I can’t tell you more because of photographer incompetence… There is however also an interesting Roman section with some marvellous mosaics.
Romanesque capitals
There are beautifully carved capitals from the original Romanesque Cathedral – how were they rescued?
And this beautiful ivory chest, 1,000 years old, from Medina al Zahara.
Frescoes
But what was most exciting was the galleries with frescoes from towns in the area. The Maestro Roque of Artajona, or was this the Maestro of Artajona?, produced some wonderfully free frescoes about San Saturnin for the Church of Cerco de Artajona. This is close to Olite and we resolved to visit. I had not really paid much attention to frescoes before and I was absolutely entranced – another book on the way? (This website has some beautiful examples from out of the way churches in Spain.)
In this fresco I just loved the horses, particularly the eyelashes…! And yes, I do realise I am being – frivolous?
Some interesting paintings
There is an interesting series of paintings by Jacob Bouttats, 17th-18th centuries, showing how God created the world. This one was the separation of day from night.
The chapel had an exhibition by a contemporary artist and I loved this wooden wall sculpture – I could certainly live with it.
The Walls
And then we needed fresh air and so continued our walk around the walls, from the Museum to the Taconera Park. (I will do another post on the park.) As always, the streets were clean and there was no litter in the park, where the hedges were also immaculate.
Refreshment!
And then it was time to sit down. The Peregrino cafe, just off the Plaza San Francisco, was good!
Finale
OK, I overdid things yesterday and so spent the afternoon with my feet up. In the evening we visited Baserriberri in San Nicolas and had a fabulous dinner! If you are in Pamplona you MUST have dinner here!
Another day ‘mooching about’ Pamplona, and a fabulous day!