Via de la Plata

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The Vía de La Plata (Silver Way) or Ruta de la Plata (Silver Route) is an old commercial path that crosses the west of Spain from north to south, connecting Mérida to Astorga, and in extension Seville with the Bay of Biscay, at Gijón. According to folk etymology, although the term Vía de la Plata apparently comes from "silver", it is in fact related to the Arabic, balata, which means "paved".

Currently, the path is used by the modern A-66 and AP-66 freeways, as well as by the older N-630 national road.

[edit] Pre-Roman era

The historical origins of this route are currently uncertain. It is believed, based on diverse archaeological findings, that the route was used for commercial purposes involving tin. Tin was present in many regions of the Iberian Peninsula including Tartessos. Therefore, it is more appropriate to call the Vía de La Plata the "Tin Way".

[edit] Roman causeway

The "Tin Way" was used as an access road, which allowed the Romans to conquer tribes such as the Callaici, the Astures, and the Vacceos. Many sources, among them the Antonine Itinerary, describe the route to leave from Emerita Augusta, (present-day Mérida), capital of Lusitania, towards Asturica Augusta (present-day Astorga) through Tarraconensis.

The road contains compelling physical evidence that shows a Roman constructed road (called the, or a, via Lata, meaning "broad road") that has been virtually unchanged at various sections. It was conceived and built as a trade route for the exploitation of gold, as mentioned by Pliny the Elder who held high office as Procurator in Hispania Tarraconensis in 73 AD. It ran from Asturica Augusta (Astorga) in Northwestern Spain, to Emerita Augusta (Mérida) in southwestern Spain. Hence Hannibal's armies, and their elephants, must have passed along it.

The road's first official name was Via Delapidata (meaning "Paved Stone Way"), stretched around 900 km (560 miles), and had a branch that joined with the Via Augusta (or Via Heraclea). After its establishment, the Via Delapidata crossed Hispania from Cádiz, through the Pyrenees, towards Gallia Narbonensis (southern France) and Rome in the Italian Peninsula. Currently, the road passes through Salmantica (Salamanca), Metelinum (Medellín), and Castra Caecilia (Cáceres). The Via Delapidata also served as an access road from Hispania Baetica.

The "Silver Way" was, technically, never a belt road for silver commerce. The name was transmogrified from Via Delapidata to Via de la Plata as a result of phonetic confusion. During the Reconquista, the Via Delapidata was pronounced by the Christians of the era as the Via de la Plata, which reflected their social orientation towards the accumulation or appreciation of gold.

[edit] Modern times

The suitability of the route's layout is demonstrated even today. The 'Silver Way' is used by modern A-66 and AP-66 freeways as well as by older N-630 national road. Some stretches, however, pass through urban areas. One such case is that of Seville, in which the Via de la Plata runs along the Guadalquivir. Overall, the Via de la Plata has become increasingly popular as an alternative to the Camino Francés for pilgrims walking, cycling or riding to Santiago de Compostela, it is one of many routes used by pilgrims across Europe to fulfill a spiritual/physical journey. Large sections are more or less the same as they were two thousand years ago.