VÃa de la Plata
The Via de la Plata is a historic road between Seville and Astorga in Spain.
It stretches for hundreds of kilometers in north-south direction through the former Roman province of Lusitania in Hispania. Your approximated curve, together with the main transport hub is mapped in the world famous Tabula Peutingeriana.
Course
The Via de la Plata connects Hispalis ( Seville today ) about Italica (today Santi Ponce ), and Emerita Augusta (now Mérida ), Helmantica (today Salamanca) with Asturica Augusta ( Astorga today ). There is evidence of a " Iter from Emerita Asturicam ".
History
Would Literally translated, the name " Silver Street " mean. However, the naming is by no means Roman.
The name Via de la Plata was created from the volksetymologischen change in the younger Moorish name Bal'latta for " wide paved path." In the first century AD, the path of Seville was completely paved to Astorga. The north - south route north of the Strait of Gibraltar had in Roman times, however, no single name.
The Romans built from existing routes. The Phoenicians are said to have used the trade route for the transport of gold and tin. It is believed that these pathways have previously been used by shepherds and hunters to spend the summer in the cooler Castilian plateau and the winter in Extremadura. Today the Via de la Plata is a pilgrimage; he is one of the routes to Santiago, ending in Santiago de Compostela.
Bridges
- Puente de Alconétar, a Roman segmental arch bridge over the Tagus