"The students of the University of Navarra's Master's Degree had the opportunity to participate in a trip to Pamplona from programs of study . There we were able to learn about the origins of the center and understand the international prestige of the institution, as well as the centrality of architecture and the essential role it plays in the different disciplines that make it up.

The trip began on Thursday, September 28, when we met at the Hotel Puerta América in Madrid, where the two buses that would take us to Pamplona were waiting for us. We arrived around noon and, after dropping off our bags, we headed to Central Building of the University's Pamplona campus to begin our activities. Our first stop was to take a photo of group on the impressive stairs of Central Building. We were received by Rosalía Baena, the Vice President of Students and International Office, in the Hall of Degrees, where she welcomed us and gave us information about the University, its origins and the values that characterize the institution since its foundation.    

After the reception, we headed to campus to enjoy an outdoor lunch. Sitting in the gardens of campus, we organized an outing to experience the tradition of "juevintxo" (Thursday pintxos), a very characteristic experience of Pamplona that we could not miss.

In the afternoon, three guided tours of the most emblematic buildings of campus took place. We started at School of Architecture, a building designed by group architects Aguinaga y Asociados that received the award National Brick Architecture Award in 1980. There, Javier Sáez Gastearena, a member of department of Theory, Projects and Urbanism, guided us through the facilities. The most impressive thing about this building is its close relationship with the students and the Degree itself in Architecture: the classrooms are organized from agreement with the Study program, the spaces are diaphanous and full of natural light, which creates an ideal environment for learning and creating.

Our next stop was the School of Social Sciences Communication, a building designed by the architecture firm VICENS+RAMOS, winner of several architectural awards. We were guided by Juan Luis Roquette Rodríguez-Villamil, also a member of department of Theory, Projects and Urbanism. During the visit, Juan emphasized how lighting plays a central role in his design, and his symbolism about communication and the role of his students in society.

To conclude Thursday's visits, we visited the Museum of the University of Navarra and accessed the exhibition 'A Promised Land. From the Age of Enlightenment to the birth of photography', along with a guide with which we reviewed the different definitions of reality from the tradition of scientific illustration, contrasting with the emergence of the photographic method and its evolution until the mid-nineteenth century. 

After a day full of learning, we headed back to our accommodations. Afterwards, we met again at the famous cafeteria Gaucho, where we enjoyed their most popular pintxos such as foie gras and truffled eggs.

The second day, Friday, September 29, began with a visit to visit to the new headquarters of the Mancomunidad de la Comarca de Pamplona, in the old Convent of the Salesas. This building is of special interest, since they have managed to preserve its archaeological value while giving it functionality and becoming an important place for the community. Finally we took a last walk through the streets of the historic center of Pamplona before returning to Madrid. 

At summary, the trip to Pamplona with the University of Navarra was an enriching experience in which we explored the campus and learned about its architectural history, but also had the opportunity to get close to the local culture and gastronomy. I thank the University for this opportunity and encourage other students to participate in this subject of experiences to enrich their Education".

Text written by: Pilar Maté Sanjuán, student of Master's Degree University in Architecture.

Photographs by: Elena Coronado Ramos, student of the double Master's Degree University Degree in Architecture and Real Estate.