First Stages of the Via de la Plata - Walking Spain's Silver Route
Discover the opening chapters of Spain's legendary Via de la Plata, a pilgrimage trail steeped in history and natural beauty. Follow ancient pathways through Andalusian landscapes as you begin your transformative journey along one of Europe's most authentic long-distance walks.
A Piedi Per Il Mondo
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First Stages of the Vía de la Plata
The first 80km along the Vía de la Plata, from Seville to El Real de la Jara: essential information for those ready to walk.
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I set out from Seville on July 31st, and now, after 3 days of walking and 81.7 km, I find myself in El Real de la Jara.
The entire route is exposed to the sun, and by 9:30-10 in the morning, the thermometer already reads 30 degrees, rising to 45 degrees in the early afternoon. These scorching temperatures are precisely why the Vía de la Plata is not recommended during the summer months, and why you see so few pilgrims on the trail (I've encountered barely a dozen so far).
The stages feature an equal mix of dirt tracks and asphalt. What differs is how you perceive them: on asphalt, your feet suffer, heating up, while the rising warmth is suffocating; dirt, by contrast, cushions your steps better and absorbs heat rather than radiating it.
Trail markers are present, though sparse leaving Seville. However, I wouldn't recommend undertaking the Vía de la Plata as your first pilgrimage trail because you need prior experience knowing where to look—on road signs, traffic lights, kerbs, manhole covers, stones on the ground, and trees.
In towns, local people are exceptionally welcoming; they're kind and readily offer help if you ask for directions. Towns also have all essential services: bars, restaurants, ATMs, and shops—perfect opportunities to stock up on water. Don't rely on fountains, which exist only in towns anyway, and along the route, save for the occasional watering hole for animals, there's nothing.
Refugios are plentiful: private ones at €12-20 with air conditioning available, municipal ones at €10, and some run on donations. Every refuge I stayed in was immaculate, though the heat was challenging.
My advice is to tackle the Vía de la Plata as your second or third pilgrimage trail. It's also essential to plan your stages carefully: read the route descriptions thoroughly, noting climbs and asphalt sections, so you can estimate roughly what time you'll reach each point. This way you can avoid hot asphalt sections, or at least try to.
Bring a pair of sandals: they'll be your salvation on both asphalt and dirt sections. Your feet will breathe and won't suffer confined inside a boot.
Finally, have a genuine reason for walking this path and hold it close! This is genuinely demanding terrain, and it's easy to have second thoughts from the very start.
Buen camino a todos
Ultreya
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GALLERY
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See Also
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MATTEO SCALISE
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