Route of the Plate on Bike
Embark on the great western peninsula cycling route. The Silver Way by bike, a 13-stage journey through history from Seville to Astorga.
Organize your Route of the Plate on BikeGeneral Description of Route of the Plate on Bike
Connections of Route of the Plate on Bike
Way of the Plate
Distance:
963.6 km
Days:
38
Difficulty:
High
The Silver Way (La Vía de la Plata) is the longest of the Camino de Santiago paths in Spain, with almost 1000 km. Its route, which starts in Seville, largely follows the ancient Roman road that connected Mérida to Astorga. It traverses Andalusia, Extremadura and Castile and León, offering pilgrims two options in Granja de Moreruela (Zamora): continue on to Astorga to link with the French Way or take the Sanabrés Way directly to Galicia.
It is a route of immense historical and monumental wealth. Due to its length and high temperatures in its southern section, it requires excellent planning. It offers diverse landscapes, from the extreme dehesas to the plains and mountains of Castile and León.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Seville to Guadahortuna
Stage 2: Guillena to Castilblanco de los Arroyos
Stage 3: Castileja del Pinar to Almaden de la Plata
Stage 4: Mondovino to Monestier-de-Clermont
Stage 5: Monastery at Fuente de Cantos
Way of Sanabria
Distance:
368 km
Days:
13
Difficulty:
Media
The Way of Saint Abades, also known as the Mozarabic Way of Sanabres, is one of the extensions of the Via Plata. It begins officially in Granja de Moreruela (Zamora), where pilgrims coming from the south can take this direct variant to Galicia. With a distance of 368 km, it passes through Zamora, the Culebra Mountains and the Sanabria region, entering Galicia by the province of Ourense.
It offers a more solitary and nature-connected pilgrimage experience, passing by the impressive Lake of Sanabria and the thermal lands of Ourense. It is a route of great scenic beauty and ethnographic richness, ideal for those who want to escape the crowds and enjoy an authentic and challenging Camino in certain sections.
Stages of this variant:
Stage 1: Farm of Moreruela to Tabarca
Stage 2: Barbera to San Cristóbal de la Laguna
Stage 3: San Cristóbal de la Peña a Rionegro del Puente
Stage 4: Rionegro del Puente to Puebla de Sanabria
Stage 5: Puebla de Sanabria to Lubian
Stages of Route of the Plate on Bike
Etapa 1: Sevilla to Castilblanco de los Arroyos
Description:
The last stage of the Camino Sanabrés. Emotion is the protagonist of this journey. The path crosses the last villages before arriving in Santiago. The entrance to the city, arrival at the Plaza del Ob...
Origen: Sevilla
Destino: Castilblanco de los Arroyos
Etapa 2: Castilblanco de los Arroyos to Monesterio
Description:
The first stage of the Way of Salvador is an urban and peri-urban route that moves away from monumental León. The route is a pleasant stroll along the Bernesga river valley. It's a day to enjoy the tr...
Origen: Castilblanco de los Arroyos
Destino: Monesterio
Etapa 3: Monesterio to Zafra
Description:
This stage enters the Central Leonesa Mountains, on a route of great beauty and solitude. The path crosses a landscape of forests and meadows, with spectacular views. It's a day to enjoy nature in its...
Origen: Monesterio
Destino: Zafra
Etapa 4: Zafra to Mérida
Description:
This is a high mountain stage that ascends to the mythical port of Pajares. It's one of the hardest and most beautiful stages of the Way of Salvador. The route is an unending ascent through a landscap...
Etapa 5: Mérida to Valdesalor
Description:
This stage descends from the Pajares port to the Asturian valleys. The route is a spectacular descent through a landscape of great beauty. It's a day to enjoy nature and look forward to arriving at on...
Origen: Mérida
Destino: Valdesalor
Etapa 6: Valdesalor to Cañaveral
Description:
The last stage of the Camino del Salvador is an enjoyable descent to the monumental city of Oviedo. The route passes through a rural and solitary landscape, which contrasts with the great city that ap...
Origen: Valdesalor
Destino: Cañaveral
Featured Towns of Route of the Plate on Bike
Explore the key towns and cities of this route.
Sevilla
Majestic start of the Silver Way in the heart of Andalusia. Seville, with its Giralda and cathedral, offers the pilgrim a beginning of the route filled with art, history, and light.
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Castilblanco de los Arroyos
Seville town in the heart of the Sierra Morena. Castilblanco de los Arroyos is a key stop on the Via de la Plata, surrounded by a landscape of beautiful dehesas.
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Monesterio
Capital of Iberian ham and gateway to Extremadura. A monastery on the Via de la Plata is a must-visit gastronomic stop to taste the best products from the dehesa.
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Zafra
Known as the "Little Seville," Zafra is a key junction where the South Way meets the Silver Road. Its Alcázar and covered plazas are its main attraction.
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Mérida
Roman Heart of the Silver Way. Mérida, a World Heritage Site, impresses the pilgrim with its Theatre, Amphitheatre and Roman Bridge, a journey through time in Extremadura.
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Valdesalor
Small service town on the Via de la Plata, perfect for dividing the stage before arriving at Cáceres.
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Cañaveral
Cacereño village on the Via de la Plata. Canaveral, surrounded by pastures, is a functional and traditional stop that offers essential services to pilgrims on their route north.
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Cáparra
Historic Roman city and milestone of the Via Plata, famous for its unique four-sided arch in Spain.
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Fuenterroble de Salvatierra
Spiritual waymarker of the Via de la Plata. Fuenterroble de Salvatierra, with its famous hostel and the figure of Father Blas, is a symbol of hospitality and fraternal pilgrimage.
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Salamanca
The "Golden City" and university town of the Via de la Plata. Salamanca, a World Heritage Site, captivates the pilgrim with its Main Square, its two cathedrals, and vibrant atmosphere.
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Zamora
Known as the "Romanic Capital", Zamora is a monumental stop on the Silver Way. Its Cathedral, with its Byzantine dome, and the River Duero mark its profile.
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Granja de Moreruela
Historic Crossroads of the Silver Way. In Granja de Moreruela, the pilgrim decides: to continue on to Astorga or take the Camino Sanabrés, a crucial choice in the route.
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Alija del Infantado
Levadeo with an imposing castle. Alijadre of the Infancy, on the Via de la Plata, is a monumental stop by the river Orbigo, offering history and a beautiful natural setting.
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Astorga
Monumental city and crossroads of roads. Astorga, the Maragata capital, is a gem of the French Way, famous for its Cathedral, the Episcopal Palace by Gaudí, and delicious Maragato cuisine.
More InformationMillenary History of the Camino de Santiago: Origins and Evolution Route of the Plate on Bike
Discover the origins and evolution of Route of the Plate on Bike
The origins of the Via de la Plata as a Roman road and its later use by Mozarabic pilgrims define it as a route for long distances. Precisely this characteristic, the enormous extensions of terrain with populations very dispersed, especially in Extremadura and Castile, made it an ideal candidate for adaptation to cycling tourism. While for a walker these long stages represent a challenge of mental and physical resistance, for a "bicigrino" they transform into rhythmic pedaling days and meditation opportunities, a chance to devour kilometers while immersed in the vastness of the landscape.
The adaptation of the route to the bicycle has been relatively easy in many stretches. The long straight sections of the original road and the service lanes of the A-66 highway, which follow its path, offer perfect terrain for riding. The history of cycling the Via de la Plata is therefore less about technical variations and more about logistics and endurance. The main historical and modern challenge of this route is not so much the geography as the climate. The extreme heat of summer in Andalusia and Extremadura has always conditioned the journey, forcing pilgrims to plan their stages in the early morning hours, a strategy that cyclists have adopted and perfected.
Cycling the Via de la Plata is making an intensive course of Spanish history from the saddle. The journey begins in Seville and soon takes the cyclist to the Roman ruins of Itálica. Continuing north to discover the incredible legacy of Mérida, the "little Rome", and the monumental city of Cáceres. The bicycle allows these landmarks to be connected, which are at several day's distance on foot, in a reasonable time. The arrival at the golden cities of Salamanca and Zamora is the reward for traversing the extreme dehesas and castellanas plains.
Upon arriving at Granja de Moreruela, the cyclist faces the same dilemma as the medieval pilgrim: to continue along the traditional route towards Astorga to join the Camino Francés or take the Sanabrés. For many cyclists, especially those riding gravel or mountain bikes, the Sanabrés is the preferred option, as it offers a more mountainous, scenic, and less trafficked final leg.
In essence, cycling the Via de la Plata is one of Europe's great long-distance cycling experiences. It transforms the challenge of distance into its greatest appeal. It is a pilgrimage for those seeking solitude, open horizons, and a deep connection to the Roman and medieval legacy of the peninsula. It is, in essence, the true way to experience this route as it always was: the great road of the west.