The surrounding area
It is quite easy to visit the many tourist attractions around Pamplona and the rest of Navarra. Due to its central location in the region, Pamplona is a good starting point for reaching, visiting and enjoying, even on the same day, breathtakingly beautiful natural landscapes, valuable historical monuments, and legendary towns and villages.
Start by visiting Mount Ezcaba (or San Cristóbal), whose almost 900-metre-high overgrown mountain overlooks the city from the north. In that natural landscape, you will find the San Cristóbal military fort, built at the end of the 19th century, sadly used as a political prison during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and abandoned since the 1990s.
Somewhat further away from Pamplona, there is also the Aralar Sierra, surrounded by meadows and lush forests. There are also caves, many of which were inhabited until relatively recent times. The area is home to the largest concentration of megalithic constructions in the whole of Navarra. Aralar is also an ideal place for hiking.
One of the main towns near Pamplona is Olite. It was the seat of the Court of the Kings of Navarre in the 13th century. The Royal Palace is a real eye-catcher, and its battlements, turrets and ramparts fuel the imagination of those who love fantasy/medieval literature and videos. A visit to Saint Peter’s church, the oldest in the town, is also a must. Visit and walk around the church of Saint Mary the Royal and admire its historic Gothic portico, some of whose figures maintain their original polychromy.
Not far away, in the heart of the Navarra Media district, is the village of San Martín de Unx, where you can visit the artistic crypt of the church of Saint Martin of Tours and also enjoy the magnificent appellation rosé (and red) wines that are produced in the area.
A few kilometres away is Ujué, a village perched on a hill and crowned by the church-fortress of Saint Mary the Royal, undoubtedly one of the most evocative and impressive religious constructions in Navarra. It is also one of the most scenic.
Nevertheless, the main reference in the Navarra Media district is Tafalla, on the banks of the river Cidacos. It irrigates the fields and vegetable gardens where some of the best vegetables in the country are grown. The town itself, with its medieval core and beautiful main square surrounded by arcades, is an active shopping hub. It is an ideal place for buying the best regional food.
Finally, near Pamplona is the Tierras de Estella district, whose capital is one of the main towns along the Way of Saint James in Navarra. Like Olite, it was the residence of the Court. That is why the Palace of the Kings of Navarre is among its monuments. Also worth a visit are the churches of Saint Peter of La Rúa (12th-13th centuries) and Saint Michael (12th century) plus the Puente de la Cárcel bridge over the river.
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