Originally named Iter ab Emerita Asturicam that is the road from Merida to Astorga the “Camino de la Plata” was begun by the Emperor Augustus shortly before the birth of Christ and wad finished in its current route in the second century AC by the Emperors Trajano and Adriano.
This route was
one of the most important roman roads in the Iberian peninsula. Many authors
have argued that the road went from Gijon to Seville based on the transport
of minerals between these two cities on this road.
The Ruta de la Plata in the middle ages had a variant that starting in Zamora and going thru Portugal across the counties of Bragança y Monteshinos lead northeast to Orense and Lalin to reach Santiago de Compostela.
This way met up with Portuguese roads coming from Vilareal and Oporto and avoided the tortuous mountain passes of the French way. The splendid cultural legacy of this rout comes together with the extreme beauty of the natural surroundings in a much more tranquil and peaceful surrounding than the northern routs.
From the mountain enshrined hermitage of San Saturio to the melancholic Portuguese one trackers we will follow the course of the Duero river across castile and Portugal 600 kilometers in which we pedal across the Iberian peninsula from east to west.
To do this route is to immerse oneself in the history of both countries, as witnessed by the rich cultural an monumental heritage that lines the route: cathedrals, churches, castles, bridges palaces and civil architecture. The varied natural landscape permits the viewing of different ecosystems Oak, Sabine and pines and the riverbank forests that line both banks of the river.
The route that
is taken by this warrior as told in the famous Cantar from Burgos to Valencia,
is our proposed itinerary thru the most beautiful scenery of the Iberian system
(Mountain range) and the Castilian meseta. We will faithfully follow the warriors
steps thru the lands of Burgos, Soria, Guadalajara, Teruel, Castellón
and Valencia as if we were observing a natural and cultural exposition. To
end our journey on the Levantine cost of the Mediterranean. Natural spaces
such as: the Sierra of la Demanda, Río Lobos canyon, Sierra of Pela,
Moorlands of Molina, Sierras of Albarracín and Javalambre, the Sierras
of Espadán all are an amazing opportunity to pedal in sparsely used
tracks, old medieval roads, bridges, roman roads, nomadic herders trails,
abandoned railways and long distance trails.
At a later date in the middle ages and in the time of the “Mesta” this road was used for seasonally migrant herds in the travel from the mountains of Cantabria to the plains of Extremadura.
The journey vary widely between the landscapes of the north and south through cities of great interest:. Mérida, Cáceres, Plasencia, Béjar, Salamanca, Zamora, Astorga..are on the way or close to it, but not only cities, villages and ruins of past times abound Hervás, Calzada de Béjar,,the ruins of Granadilla or Cáparra, There are also natural spaces of great interest on the way. In the south meadows of oak and cork trees upon entering the Meseta thru the mountain pass of Bejar, chestnuts and, never ending moors and steppe between Salamanca and Zamora, a wide variation of flora and fauna ecosystems.
Crossing the best valleys of the peninsular north, starting at Somiedo, the emblematic park of Asturias we reach the Urbiña range Pajares mountain pass, county of Ayer, San Isidro pass, Puebla de Lillo, Riaño, San Glorio pass, Fuentes Carrionas, the Palentina mountain range and the pasiego valleys of Cantabria.
The route goes from West
to East between Somiedo and Santander.. Stages between 45 and 70 kilometers
long of varying physical difficulty but always within reach for experienced
Mountain bikers.