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Via de la Plata

"Caminante no hay camino, se hace camino al andar" (Walker there is no path, you make your path by walking) Antonio Machado (1875 - 1939)


We walked the Via de la Plata from Seville to Zamora (575 km) in the Spring of 2007.  If you want to see the distances and profile, click here 



  • In 2015, we walked the Via Augusta from Cadiz to Sevilla, 190 km, click here
  • Finally after 10 years, in 2017 we returned to Zamora to complete the 370km Camino Sanabres to Santiago, click here




Map of the Via de la Plata

This is the hotel we stayed at in Sevilla's old quarter

Sevilla's golden tower - much Arab (Moorish) influence in Sevilla

A chapel in Triana after crossing the bridge on the way out of Sevilla

The Roman theatre at Italica (now Santiponce), near Sevilla

Inside the Roman amphitheatre at Italica

Roman amphitheatre, Italica

Detail of floor mosaic

River crossing

The path out of Guillena

Long abandoned castle along the Way

Ermita (Chapel) near Monasterio

Sea of wild flowers in the Spring

Fuente de Cantos

The old railway station at Zafra

Santiago (St James)

Crooked pillars of Zafra's town square

Again the Moorish influence

Los Santos de Maimona

Shells of the pilgrim at Los Santos de Maimona

Heading into grape country, beautifully kept, neat rows

Plaza de los Torros (bull ring) at Almendralej

The Roman bridge into Merida - 792 meters long, 60 arches

Aqueducto de los milagros - bought water 15 k to Merida

Storks nest on the old aqueduct at Merida

Templo de Diana - Merida

Merida - amphitheatre

Merida - Roman theatre, still used

Floor mosaic - crushing grapes

Roman version of the speed bump at Merida

Merida

We will leave Merida by a small Roman bridge

The Roman reservoir supplied water to Merida

Jamon Iberico

Aljuen

Detail of Santiago on church at Aljuen

Extremadura has descriptions of the Way on granite blocks

Yellow arrow waymark on cross

Packs beside the Roman road ahead

Today was Roman bridge day - Casa de Don Antinio

Crossing another Roman bridge

Roman bridge into Valdesalor

Into Caceres

Old Caceres in the background - the most intact walled city in Spain

Up the steps to the old city of Caceres

Santiago perigrino

Cathedral at Caceres

The tops of their towers were removed if the owners backed the wrong side years ago

Reflections in a window

Coat of arms

Moorish cistern at Caceres

Even the statue hides from the rain

Fallen miliario (Roman mile marker) reveals the square base

Graveyard of miliarios - originally placed a mile apart along the Roman road

Dawn at Embalse de Alcantara

Heading to Canaveral

Canaveral - proud of its chimneys, this one from 1882

Resting at the Ermita San Christobal

The Way passes through cork trees

Approaching the walled town of Galisteo

Triumphal Arch, Caparra

Roman road leading to the Arch

This way

Normally dry

Up the Roman road

Aldeanueva del Camino

Cross the Roman bridge ....

.... and follow the path into Banos de Montemayor

Chapel - Banos de Montemayor

Into Castilla y Leon - immediate change in scenery

Puente de la Magdalena - Roman bridge, still used

The Via de la Plata

Calzada de Bejar - population 40

Writing still visible on this miliario

Wayside cross

Refugio at Fuenterroble de Salvatierra

Lone wayside cross

Breakfast time at Pico de la Duena, the highest point for us at 1140 meters

Cross the Roman bridge and turn right into Salamanca

he arcaded Plaza Mayor is the most beautiful in Spain

Salamanca

Romanesque church - Salamanca

Salamanca

Santiago Matamoros - St James the Moor slayer

Casa de las Conchas (house of shells) - Salamanca

Decorative windows - Salamanca

Salamanca street

Courtyard in the Salamanca University - founded 1218

Statue of el Toro

Another Romanesque church in Salamanca

Salamanca

Monastery at Salamanca

Heading out of Salamanca

Old window at Calzada de Valdunciel

On the Via de la Plata heading for Zamora

Romanesque bridge into Zamora - three mills downstream under the closest arch

Water mills, Zamora

Zamora, guarded by cliffs and walls

The street of bars (all closed for siesta)

Cathedral of Zamora

Fish scale roof of Zamora's cathedral

Romanesque church, one of 19 in Zamora

Detail of the church window

We leave by Zamora by the Bishop's gate to take the train to Avila

Map of the Via de la Plata