Walking the Via de la Plata : A 1,000 km Pilgrimage Across Spain

Pilgrimage on the Via de la Plata

A Camino Journey on the Roman Road to Santiago


The Via de la Plata is one of Europe’s great long-distance pilgrimages - a path of stone and story stretching from the vibrant streets of Seville to the sacred square of Santiago de Compostela. For over a thousand kilometres, this route follows ancient Roman roads, medieval tracks, and rural pathways through the quiet heart of Spain.


When I walked it, I crossed landscapes where silence was louder than any city, passed milestones carved two thousand years ago, and met locals whose hospitality felt as timeless as the road beneath my feet.



Why Walk the Via de la Plata?


  • History – Roman bridges, amphitheatres, and roads still in use today.

  • Fewer Crowds – Less busy than the Camino Francés, offering space for solitude and reflection.

  • Vast Landscapes – Extremadura’s dehesa fields, Castile’s open plains, and Galicia’s rolling green hills.

  • Authentic Culture – Towns and villages little touched by mass tourism, each with its own food, festivals, and rhythm of life.

  • A Test of Endurance – Long stages and open stretches make this a pilgrimage for those ready to embrace slow travel and self-reliance.


Details about Via de la Plata Pilgrimage


  • Origin: Seville, Andalusia

  • Destination: Santiago de Compostela, Galicia

  • Distance: ~1,000 km

  • Time Required: 35–45 walking days

  • Best Seasons: March–May or September–October for cooler weather

  • Terrain: Mix of paved Roman roads, dirt tracks, and rural paths



Our Day-by-Day Pilgrimage


Over the coming entries, we’ll share our full pilgrimage, stage by stage - with reflections, practical advice, and photographs from the trail. Whether you’re planning to walk it yourself or simply following along from home, we invite you to join us step by step.


Itinerary and Stages on the Via de la Plata:


About the Via de la Plata Camino Pilgrimage


Slow Travel on the Via de la Plata


Beginning the Via de la Plata Camino: Seville to Guillena


Pilgrims on a Roman Road: Guillena to Castilblanco de Los Arroyos


The Pace of Nature: Castilblanco de Los Arroyos to Almaden de la Plata


Every Step a Lesson: Almadena de la Plata to Monesterio


Fields of Gold: Monesterio to Fuente de Cantos


Camino along Country Roads: Fuente de Cantos to Zafra


When Trust is Tested on the Camino: Reflections on Theft on Pilgrimage


A Different Camino Everyday: Zafra to Villafranca de los Barros


Culture Shock and Questions: Villafranca de los Barros to Torremejia


Making Choices on Camino: Torremejia to Merida 


In the Shadow of the Roman Empire: Exploring Merida


Roman Aqueducts, Dams and Baths: Merida to Aljucen


Amazing Vistas and Insights: Aljucen to Alcuescar


Mileposts to Marshes: Alcuescar to Valdesalor


Pilgrims in the City: Valdesalor to Casar de Caceres


Walking Your Own Camino: Casar de Caceres to Canaveral


Forests, Fields and Fence lines: Canaveral to Galisteo


A Camino in Three Parts: Galisteo to Oliva de Plasencia


Where are all the Pilgrims?: Oliva de Plasencia to Aldenueva del Camino  


Into Castilla y León: Aldeanueva del Camino to La Calzada de Bejar


Challenges and Trail Angels: La Calzada de Bejar to Fuenterroble de Salvatierra


Looking Backward, Looking Forward: Fuenterroble de Salvatierra to Morille


Attacked on the Camino: When Peace is Broken on the Way


Halfway and Meseta: Morille to Salamanca


A Day off the Camino Exploring Salamanca


Road to Nowhere: Salamanca to El Cubo del Vino


Cross Country on Camino: El Cubo del Vino to Zamora


Don Quixote in Zamora


Frustrations and Faith on Camino: Zamora to Riego del Camino


Camino Decisions: Riego del Camino to Granja de Moreruela


Via de la Plata and Camino Sanabres: Long Distance Hike or Spiritual Pilgrimage?


Reflections from the Way: Via de la Plata & Camino Sanabrés



Slow Travel on the Camino


The Via de la Plata isn’t a race to Santiago - it’s an invitation to slow down, to walk with history, and to listen to the landscapes as they change around you. The days can be long, the sun unforgiving, but every stage brings new beauty, new challenges, and a deeper sense of connection to Spain’s people and places.


The Via de la Plata would prove unlike any Camino pilgrimage, or long-distance hike, we had ever undertaken. Over more than forty days between Seville and Santiago de Compostela, almost nothing went as planned. En route, after long days on the trail, we constantly struggled to find accommodations and supplies. We would have to navigate having a thief in the albergues - and at one point, events would take a violently unexpected turn, leaving one of us with a black eye and a lost tooth.


We set out fully aware of the trail’s reputation: long, gruelling stages, scarce amenities along the way, and even fewer accommodations. Yet even with that knowledge, the relentless focus on logistics, combined with the constant uncertainty of what lay ahead, made this route the toughest journey we had ever faced.  Testing our stamina, patience, and resolve in ways no other Camino had before.


Historical Trails and Pilgrimage Routes


The Via de la Plata is just one of the many pilgrimage paths we’ve walked across Spain and beyond. If the call of the silver way has inspired you, you might also enjoy the mountain challenges of the Camino Primitivo, the quiet beauty of the Camino Sanabrés, or the windswept coastlines of the Camino Portugués. You can explore all our long-distance hikes and pilgrimage journeys - from Andalucía to the Scottish Borders - here.


See you on the Way!
Location: Seville, Spain
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