Walking the Via de la Plata : A 1,000 km Pilgrimage Across Spain
Pilgrimage on the Via de la Plata Camino
A Journey on the Ancient 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.
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Why Walk the Via de la Plata?
History Beneath Your Boots – 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 True 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 Waking Pilgrimage
Over the coming weeks, I’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, I 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 Tree a Teacher, 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
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
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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, and at one point, events would take a violently unexpected turn. 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.
If you’re ready to follow the silver road north, I’ll meet you on the path.
Historical Trails and Pilgrimage Routes
The Via de la Plata is just one of the many pilgrimage paths I’ve walked across Spain and beyond. If the call of the silver road 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!
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