Pamplona-Iruña City Council

Pamplona City Hall (Ayuntamiento de Pamplona) stands at the heart of the old town, on Plaza Consistorial, and is one of the defining landmarks of Pamplona-Iruña.

Why does this building matter so much to the city?

Until 1423, what is now Pamplona was actually three separate, rival walled towns: Navarrería, San Cernín and San Nicolás, each with its own boundaries and long-running disputes with the others. King Charles III "the Noble" put an end to the conflict by uniting the three burgs into a single city, with one shared town hall as the symbol of that union. The square in front of the building, Plaza Consistorial, was laid out specifically to reflect this reconciliation — its converging, triangular shape echoes the point where the three former districts met.

What does the façade look like, and what does it show?

The current building dates from 1953, but it preserves the Baroque-Neoclassical façade built in 1760, designed by José de Zay y Lorda, a Pamplona-born cleric and architect. The sculptural work on the façade was carried out by José Jiménez. Above the main entrance sit allegorical figures of two virtues, Prudence and Justice, while the upper part of the façade features a figure of Hercules alongside an allegory of Fame. The contrast between the ornate 18th-century front and the much newer 1950s building behind it is one of the more interesting details for anyone curious about the architecture.

What is the connection to the San Fermín festival?

Every year on 6 July at noon, a rocket known as the chupinazo is launched from the town hall's balcony, officially opening the world-famous Festival of San Fermín — best known internationally for the encierro, the running of the bulls. Thousands of people dressed in white with red neckerchiefs pack Plaza Consistorial to witness this moment. The building also plays a symbolic role at the close of the fiesta: on the night of 14 July, the same square hosts the pobre de mí, an emotional closing ceremony where locals sing to mark the end of the festival.

Can visitors go inside the town hall?

The building functions as the seat of Pamplona-Iruña's municipal government, so access to the interior is limited and depends on the city council's current rules. The square itself and the façade, however, are open to everyone year-round and rank among the most photographed spots in the city, whatever the season.

Where is the square located, and what's nearby?

Plaza Consistorial sits exactly where the three historic districts of the old town once met, making it a natural reference point for exploring the area — the narrow lanes of the old quarter, numerous pintxos bars, and the route the bulls run each year during the encierro are all close at hand. It's a place where the medieval history of the Kingdom of Navarre meets one of Europe's most famous festivals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Pamplona's town hall? The building houses the city's municipal administration, so interior access is limited and subject to the council's current rules. The square and façade can be visited freely at any time.

Why is the chupinazo rocket launched from this particular building? The town hall and its square form the historic heart of the city, which is why it became the traditional launch point for announcing the start of the San Fermín festival every 6 July.

Where does the name Iruña come from? Iruña is the Basque name for Pamplona, used alongside the Spanish name — which is why the city and its institutions carry the official bilingual name Pamplona/Iruña.

Is the town hall's façade original? The façade seen today dates from 1760 and was deliberately preserved when a new, larger town hall building was constructed behind it in 1953.