Vía de la Plata

The Vía de la Plata follows the route of an ancient Roman road from Seville in Andalusia to the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela. At nearly 1,000 kilometers, it is the longest of the Camino routes, crossing four of Spain's autonomous communities and some of its most dramatic landscapes.

📜 History & Significance

The "Silver Way" takes its name not from precious metal but from the Arabic word "balat" meaning paved road, a testament to the route's origins as a major Roman highway connecting Augusta Emerita (Mérida) with Asturica Augusta (Astorga). Roman legions, merchants, and later Mozarabic Christians from Islamic al-Andalus all traveled this corridor.

During the Reconquista, the route became a pilgrimage way for Christians living under Moorish rule who wished to venerate St James. Today it offers pilgrims an alternative to the crowded French Way, with vast horizons, extreme temperatures, and a profound sense of solitude.

🥾 Route Overview

The route covers 970 km in 36-38 stages over 6-7 weeks of walking. From Seville, pilgrims head north through the Roman cities of Mérida and Cáceres, cross the plains of Extremadura, and reach Salamanca with its golden sandstone architecture. Beyond Zamora, pilgrims must choose: continue to Astorga to join the Camino Francés, or take the Camino Sanabrés northwest through Ourense directly to Santiago.

The Vía de la Plata is known for long stages between services, extreme summer heat, and the remarkable preservation of Roman infrastructure including bridges and milestones.

☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites

Mérida - The "Spanish Rome" preserves the finest Roman ruins in the Iberian Peninsula, including a theater, amphitheater, and temple.

Cáceres - A UNESCO World Heritage city with an intact medieval old town of towers and palaces.

Salamanca - Home to Spain's oldest university and a magnificent Plaza Mayor; pilgrims cross the Roman bridge over the Tormes River.

Zamora - The "museum of Romanesque art" with more Romanesque churches than any city in Europe.