The Via de la Plata: Southern pilgrimage

The Vía de la Plata was established in a Roman road that was used for commercial reasons, linking the southern towns (from Augusta Emerita) with those of the north (to Asturica Augusta). With the Christian conquest of the Peninsula, this route began to be used as a pilgrimage from the south.

The Vía de la Plata is characterized by having extreme temperatures in summer. That is why it is not advisable to do it between June and September, or at least avoid the stages between Seville and Salamanca In July and August, the temperatures in Andalusia and Extremadura exceed 40 degrees in the shade.

This is one of the routes with greater contrasts, also in its natural spaces. The pilgrim can enjoy places of unusual beauty. From dense forests of Atlantic climate to extensive meadows. Some of the thick oak forests of Sanabria and Orense will leave you with your mouth open. In addition, you can also enjoy the olive groves and vineyards of Andalusia and Extremadura.

On this route, the Cathedral of Seville deserves a special mention. Other religious buildings that you can visit with this route are: The Church of Santa Eulalia in Mérida. The two cathedrals of Salamanca, the Old and the New. And the Cathedral of Zamora.

Since the Vía de la Plata crosses 4 communities, the gastronomic offer is very varied. Beginning with Andalusia, in it the Mediterranean diet abounds. You can enjoy a lot of gazpacho and “pescaito” fried.

Once Andalusia is abandoned, in Extremadura wine and ham take center stage. Also, something very typical is the Casar cake.

In Castilla y León, the tradition of good wines continues, but its meats also stand out. A roasted lamb will make your mouth water.

As for accommodation, the Vía de la Plata does not have as many hostels as the French Way, but in all the stages that we propose there is at least one.

The best months to do Via de la Plata are March, April, May and October. In those months, the majority of pilgrims are foreigners. This route is one of the most solitary, although in recent years it has been increasing, but it is still very little prone to overcrowding.