Via de la Plata

[[File:Viaplatasvg.svg|thumb|250px|Vía de la Plata]] The '''Vía de La Plata''' (Silver Way) or '''Ruta de la Plata''' (Silver Route) is an ancient commercial and pilgrimage path that crosses the west of [[Spain]] from north to south, connecting [[Mérida, Spain|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 seems to come from the modern Spanish word for silver, "plata", it actually came from the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word ''balata'', which means "paved" {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}, for the road was, like many other Roman roads, paved. In fact, the root of the modern Spanish word "plata" is the [[Vulgar Latin]] word "plattus", meaning broad, flat or spread out. Currently, the path is used by the modern [[Autovía A-66|A-66]] and [[Autovía A-66|AP-66]] freeways, as well as by the older [[List of national roads in Spain|N-630]] national road. ==Pre-Roman era== The historical origins of this route are currently uncertain. It is believed, based on diverse archaeological findings {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}, 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 del Estaño, the "Tin Way". ==Roman causeway== [[File:Puente de Alconétar, Cáceres Province, Spain. Pic 02.jpg|thumb|The [[Tagus]] was negotiated by the almost 300 m long [[Alconétar Bridge]].]] The "Tin Way" was used as an access road, which allowed the Romans to conquer tribes such as the [[Callaici]], the [[Astur]]es, and the [[Vacceos]]. Many sources, among them the [[Antonine Itinerary]], describe the route to leave from [[Emerita Augusta]], (present-day [[Mérida, Spain|Mérida]]), capital of [[Lusitania]], towards [[Asturica Augusta]] (present-day [[Astorga, Spain|Astorga]]) through [[Hispania Tarraconensis|Tarraconensis]]. The road contains physical evidence that shows a [[Roman road|Roman constructed road]] (called the, or a, {{lang|la|''via lata''}}, meaning "broad road") {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} that has been almost 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 (Roman)|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. {{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} The road's first official name was '''Via Delapidata''' {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} (meaning "Paved Stone Way"), stretched around {{convert|900|km|mi|abbr=on}}, 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 [[Ancient Rome|Rome]] in the [[Italian Peninsula]]. Currently, the road passes through [[Salamanca|Salmantica (Salamanca)]], [[Medellín (Spain)|Metelinum (Medellín)]], and [[Cáceres, Spain|Castra Caecilia (Cáceres)]]. The Via Delapidata also served as an access road from [[Hispania Baetica]]. {{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} The "Silver Way" was, technically, never a belt road for silver commerce. The name was transmogrified from Via Delapidata to Vía de la Plata as a result of phonetic confusion. However, during the Roman Empire it is known that it was used to connect two main areas of the highest importance at both end, the gold mines of [[Las Medulas]] and the copper mines of [[Rio Tinto (river)|Rio Tinto]]. ==Modern times== The suitability of the route's layout is demonstrated even today. The 'Silver Way' is used by modern [[Autovía A-66|A-66]] and [[Autovía A-66|AP-66]] freeways as well as by older [[List of national roads in Spain|N-630]] national road. Some stretches, however, pass through urban areas. One such case is that of Seville, in which the Vía de la Plata runs along the [[Guadalquivir]]. Overall, the Vía de la Plata has become increasingly popular as an alternative to the [[Way of St. James (route descriptions)#The French Way|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. ==External links== *[http://www.rutadelaplata.com/en Vía de la Plata route website] *[http://www.caminoguide.net/ Guide to walking the Vía de la Plata] *[http://www.godesalco.com/camino/plata La Vía de la Plata] *[http://www.viaplata.com/ La Vía de la Plata en Extremadura] {{List of Roman roads}} {{Ways of Saint James}} {{coord missing|Spain}}