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A spectacular 1000km walk, the Vía de la Plata is an ancient pilgrimage route from Sevilla in southern Spain to the country's northwest corner, where St James is entombed at Santiago de Compostela. Christians weren't the first to make this journey; by medieval times the route was already a well-trodden trade and cultural highway used to spread Roman and Muslim culture to Iberia's heathen north.
Today, pilgrims walk the Vía de la Plata for many different reasons. For some, the pilgrimage to the Holy City is a lifelong dream borne out of religious faith. Others seek a break from daily routines or wish for a simpler way of living, and some want to immerse themselves in Spanish history and culture. Many have already walked the camino francés and can't get the pilgrimage out of their system.
The Vía de la Plata is a more varied trip than the more popular northern route, passing through stunning landscapes and cultural treasures, and with only 2000 pilgrims making the trip each year, you'll have more chances to meet with local people. Still, it's a tougher, more isolated trip, with fewer facilities and less of a pilgrim infrastructure.
Walking the Via de la Plata leads you step-by-step along the route, from Sevilla to Santiago de Compostela and on to Finisterre. Begin your journey in Andalucía, home to flamenco, tapas and splendid Moorish architecture, and bask in a sunny climate ideal for cork oaks, cacti and cotton. Then head north on a Roman road, crossing glorious arched bridges, and passing hippodromes, amphitheatres and fabulous mosaics. You'll pass through places made famous by rampaging Christian knights and wander through grand houses built by the conquistadores who overran the Americas. Finally, you'll cross into northwest Spain, green as Ireland and damp as can be, where thick stone houses and splendid rural architecture dot isolated mountainsides.
While you walk, we'll point out wildlife found nowhere else in the world, such as the Iberian lynx, the most endangered wild cat in the world. We'll introduce you to bizarre festivals where cows clamber up town walls or masked men batter spectators with large sticks. We'll help you sort out your fino from your amontillado, discover unique local wines, and try (or avoid) regional dishes from deep-fried rooster comb to spicy snails. And we'll smooth your journey with practical information, from places to stay to useful phrases in Castellano (Spanish) and Galego (Galician).
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