We walked the Via de la Plata from Seville to Zamora (570 km) in the Spring of 2007. If you want to see the distances and profile, click
here
"Caminante no hay camino, se hace camino al andar" (Walker there is no path, you make your path by walking) Antonio Machado (1875 - 1939)
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| Via de la Plata |
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| This is the hotel we stayed at in Sevilla's old quarter |
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| Sevilla's golden tower - much Arab influence in Sevilla |
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| A chapel in Triana after crossing the bridge on the way out of Sevilla |
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| The Roman theatre at Italica (now Santiponce), near Sevilla |
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| Inside the Roman amphitheatre at Italica |
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| Roman amphitheatre, Italica |
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| Detail of floor mosaic |
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| River crossing |
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| The path out of Guillena |
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| Long abandoned castle along the Way |
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| Ermita (Chapel) near Monasterio |
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| Sea of wild flowers in the Spring |
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| Fuente de Cantos |
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| The old railway station at Zafra |
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| Santiago (St James) |
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| Crooked pillars of Zafra's town square |
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| Again the Moorish influence |
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| Los Santos de Maimona |
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| Shells of the pilgrim at Los Santos de Maimona |
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| Heading into grape country, beautifully kept, neat rows |
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| Plaza de los Torros (bull ring) at Almendralejo |
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| The Roman bridge into Merida - 792 meters long, 60 arches |
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| Aqueducto de los milagros - bought water 15 k to Merida |
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| Storks nest on the old aqueduct at Merida |
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| Templo de Diana - Merida |
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| Merida - amphitheatre |
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| Merida - Roman theatre, still used |
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| Floor mural - crushing grapes |
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| Roman version of the speed bump at Merida |
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| Merida |
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| We will leave Merida by a small Roman bridge |
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| The Roman reservoir supplied water to Merida |
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| Jamon Iberico? |
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| Aljuen |
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| Detail of Santiago Peregrino on church at Aljuen |
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| Extremadura has descriptions of the Way on granite blocks |
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| Yellow arrow waymark on cross |
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| Packs beside the Roman road ahead |
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| Today was Roman bridge day - Casa de Don Antinio |
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| Crossing another Roman bridge |
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| Roman bridge into Valdesalor |
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| Into Caceres |
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| Old Caceres in the background - the most intact walled city in Spain |
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| Up the steps to the old city of Caceres |
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| Santiago Peregrino (St James the Pilgrim) |
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| Cathedral at Caceres |
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| The tops of their towers were removed if the owners backed the wrong side years ago |
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| Reflections in a window |
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| Coat of arms |
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| Moorish cistern at Caceres |
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| Even the statue hides from the rain |
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| Fallen miliario reveals the square base |
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| Graveyard of miliarios - originally placed a mile apart along the Roman road |
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| Dawn at Embalse de Alcantara |
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| Heading to Canaveral |
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| Canaveral - proud of its chimneys, this one from 1882 |
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| Resting at the Ermita San Christobal |
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| The Way passes through cork trees |
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| Approaching the walled town of Galisteo |
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| Triumphal Arch, Caparra |
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| Roman road leading to the Arch |
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| This way |
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| Normally dry |
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| Up the Roman road |
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| Aldeanueva del Camino |
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| Cross the Roman bridge ... |
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| ... and follow the path into Banos de Montemayor |
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| Chapel - Banos de Montemayor |
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| Into Castilla y Leon - immediate change in scenery |
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| Puente de la Magdalena - Roman bridge, still used |
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| The Via de la Plata |
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| Calzada de Bejar - population 40 |
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| Writing still visible on this miliario |
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| Wayside cross |
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| Refugio at Fuenterroble de Salvatierra |
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| Lone wayside cross |
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| Breakfast time at Pico de la Duena, the highest point for us at 1140 meters |
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| Cross the Roman bridge and turn right into Salamanca |
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| The arcaded Plaza Mayor is the most beautiful in Spain |
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| Salamanca |
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| Romanesque church - Salamanca |
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| Salamanca |
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| Santiago Matamoros - St James the Moor slayer |
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| Casa de las Conchas (house of shells) - Salamanca |
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| Decorative windows - Salamanca |
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| Salamanca street |
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| Courtyard in the Salamanca University - founded 1218 |
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| Statue of el Toro |
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| Another Romanesque church in Salamanca |
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| Salamanca |
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| Monastery at Salamanca |
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| Heading out of Salamanca |
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| Old window at Calzada de Valdunciel |
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| On the Via de la Plata heading into Zamora |
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| Romanesque bridge into Zamora - three mills downstream under the closest arch |
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| Water mills, Zamora |
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| Zamora, guarded by cliffs and walls |
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| The street of bars (all closed for siesta) |
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| Cathedral of Zamora |
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| Fish scale roof of Zamora's cathedral |
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| Romanesque church, one of 19 in Zamora |
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| Detail of the church window |
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| We leave by Zamora by the Bishop's gate to take the train to Avila |