RUTA VÍA DE LA PLATA. MUCH MORE THAN A ROMAN ROAD
One of the oldest roads in the Iberian Peninsula is today one the most important routes connecting the western part of the peninsula from north to south and vice versa. It combines culture, nature and gastronomy in the form of routes, trails and circuits to access all kinds of places and activities. The Ruta Via de la Plata is always an attractive destination for all kinds of travellers.
A legend with a long history
The Ruta Vía de la Plata is a tourist and cultural route based on a Roman road, although its name comes from Arabic and refers to the kind of surface (balata, a paved road) and not to the transport of mineral or to the width of the track, as is sometimes claimed. It connected some of the largest cities in Hispania and was also used to spread Roman culture. It was supplied with infrastructures which are now important remains along the route, and continued to play a major role in the communication networks of the Iberian Peninsula in the Middle Ages, during the centuries when Muslims and Christians shared the land, economy and culture; and ever since then.
An endless journey
That’s what the Ruta Vía de la Plata is: a journey without an end. Not in vain, this route goes through four regions and seven provinces on a north-south axis 800 kilometres long and covering over 100,000 square kilometres, with strong links with neighbouring Portugal. Travellers can enjoy viewing numerous examples of all the cultures that have left their traces in the Iberian Peninsula: from the Roman world to Baroque Seville, including the Arab legacy, Asturian pre-Romanesque, Romanesque (which reaches its greatest splendour in Zamora), Gothic architecture, etc.
More than that, on the Ruta Vía de la Plata, you can visit World Heritage cities; significant natural places and landscapes; and also important cultural and ethnographic sites.
Additionally, thanks to its route and infrastructures it is the perfect trail for cyclists. It is equally an ideal route for lovers of motor-cycle tourism. In this regard, the Ruta Via de la Plata is one of the most complete and varied routes that can be followed on a motor-bike, practically 365 days a year. It is no less attractive for those who prefer to travel by car and discover the essence of a country while also enjoying its impressive scenery. And since it isn’t necessary to complete the Route, the possibilities for lovers of trekking are almost endless.