PAMPLONA, Spain – The narrow cobblestone streets of Pamplona have once again erupted with a mix of fear and excitement as the city's famed San Fermín festival is in full swing, highlighted by its dramatic and world-renowned running of the bulls.
The centuries-old tradition, known locally as the "encierro," kicked off this week, drawing tens of thousands of participants and spectators from around the globe. Each morning at 8 a.m., six fighting bulls are let loose to charge along a winding, 875-meter (956-yard) course through the city's old quarter to the bullring.
In front of them, thousands of daredevil runners, clad in traditional white attire with red sashes, test their courage and speed in a desperate attempt to outrun the massive animals. The adrenaline-fueled dash is a breathtaking spectacle of chaos and bravery, lasting only a few minutes.
The event is as dangerous as it is thrilling. Every year brings reports of injuries, ranging from bruises and broken bones from falls in the crowded sprint to serious gorings by the bulls' horns. Despite the risks, the event's allure continues to attract a global crowd.
The festival, which runs for nine days, was immortalized in Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises, which helped catapult it to international fame. It remains one of Spain's most iconic cultural events, a vibrant and perilous tradition that continues to captivate a global audience.
