Garlics

The popularly known "Garlic Square" in Pamplona is, in fact, properly called The Plaza de las Recoletas, no matter how often the people might refer to the place as "Plaza del ajo "or" Garlic Square".

The nickname arose from the fact that strings of garlic have long been sold from stands in this square during Sanfermin. And it only became city hall property in 1974 when City Hall bought it. And the proper name was bestowed on the square because the convent of the Agustinas Recoletas (The Order of Augustinian Nuns) resides in the square.

As coal was also long sold from premises in this square, it also acquired the name of "Coal Square" as well as that of "Garlic Square" in the popular vernacular. Nowadays there is little garlic and less coal sold there. During the 1950's and even 1960's of the last century there were up to 26 stands selling garlic during Sanfermin. The high demand for stands meant that the outlets were auctioned and in 1967 as much as 42,000 pts was paid for some of the best sites in the square.

Whole strings of garlic used to be bought by the public and many of the young men would wear them around the neck during the Sanfermin fiestas before taking them back to their villages as presents after the fiestas where they would be hung above the kitchen stove.

Nowadays the wholesaler could be bringing in garlic from many different locations. But in the old days the garlic from Falces and from Corella had a special fame. Some families have been bringing their garlic for many generations to be sold in this square, such as the Izquierdo, and the Martinez. Pedro Martinez, from Tudela, continues to bring his strings of garlic to Sanfermin each year.

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