The "Casa de Misericordia" in Pamplona

The "Casa de Misericordia" in Pamplona exploits the Bullring in order to get Money to help run this old folk's residence for the poor and the aged. This residence has a special bullfight committee which is responsible for making contracts with the different bull-breeders to take bulls to Pamplona for the Sanfermin bullfights. It also makes contracts with the bullfighters and does all the other work in required in organizing a week of bullfights. It is also in charge of organizing the running of the bulls each morning during the fiestas

According to the bill known as the "Auto de la Ciudad" which was drawn up on the 9th of April, 1706, and which sets down the establishment of an old folk's home known as the •"Casa de Misericordia", the principal aim of the establishment was to refuge for the poor of both sexes. From 1793 up to 1980 shelter was also provided for orphan children. At present, the residence holds some five hundred and fifty old folk who are without economic resources or family or suffering from any kind of social isolation. Ever since its origins, it has also tried to provide work and training to the needy. .

These charitable aims have always needed funding and for this reason the establishment from the very beginning had sources of income such as a handkerchief factory (1706-1922), the right to exploit a pelota handball court (1777-1910) and, most importantly of all, the right to manage the annual animal fair during the fiestas of Sanfermin - the Barracas- (1882-2008). And most important of all, the Casa de Misericordia had the right to exploit the bullfighting during the Sanfermin fiestas and to this end it constructed the bullring and organized all the aspects of the bullfighting week held during Sanfermin.

It was Pamplona City Hall which ceded the ground to build the present bullring back in the early nineteen twenties of the past century. The Casa de Misericordia accepted this challenge and ever since then, as the owner of the bullring, it maintains the upkeep of the bullring and organizes the bullfights and the running of the bulls during fiestas. Even the erection of the fencing is the responsibility of the Casa de Misericordia. The Casa gets about ten percent of its total annual income from the bullfights and other events such as the running of the bulls during the fiestas.

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