Highlights of Via de la Plata

[HeyRobin]

I'll be walking the VdlP for the first time in a couple of weeks. Starting in Sevilla, hoping to make it to Cañaveral. Do you have any tips for me? Places to see, pilgrim's mass, albergues to stay in, history of the route... etc. I'd appreciate any comments you can leave! Robin

 

[Stivandrer]

Have you found a Camino app for the stretch ?

via de la plata - Android Apps on Google Play

Enjoy millions of the latest Android apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, magazines & more. Anytime, anywhere, across your devices.

play.google.com

for instance this,

Vía de la Plata Guide - Apps on Google Play

A guide for pilgrims on the Vía de la Plata from Seville to Santiago

play.google.com

by Gerald Kelly, who is also found on FB in the group Camino de Santiago All Routes

Straight out of Sevilla, there is in Santiponce, a ruined Roman town called Italica, which is worth a stop, a mere 11 kms from town center....

 

[walkabouts]

Hi Robin

Good to see that you will also be on VDLP. Tips are aplenty on this forum.
As mentioned above, there are good guide books/apps which will provide all the answers you are looking for. For such a journey, there are no real short cuts in the planning stage, which is also a big part of the experience too. Skimp on this part, and you will surely miss out on the many wonders along the way and then wish you had spent more time doing so.
This link was very useful for our planning, still ongoing, and we will be starting in last week of April.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/virtual-and-very-detailed-plan-to-walk-the-vdlp-and-sanabres-planning-while-in-confinement.67424/

Enjoy the walk

 

[Jim Bispham]

I'll be walking the VdlP for the first time in a couple of weeks. Starting in Sevilla, hoping to make it to Cañaveral. Do you have any tips for me? Places to see, pilgrim's mass, albergues to stay in, history of the route... etc. I'd appreciate any comments you can leave! Robin

Be very careful on the stretch just south of Melida. Last week I was on my own and a dog came towards me and started being aggressive, unknown to me, another dog came from behind and grabbed my left thigh and took a chunk out of it. I needed hospital attention. I told the local police, basically they said the are aware of a dog problem in that area.

 

[walkabouts]

Be very careful on the stretch just south of Melida. Last week I was on my own and a dog came towards me and started being aggressive, unknown to me, another dog came from behind and grabbed my left thigh and took a chunk out of it. I needed hospital attention. I told the local police, basically they said the are aware of a dog problem in that area.

Thanks for the info, sorry to hear you were attacked by a dog. We will be on the look out for them. Was that near Merida or Melide?

 

[HeyRobin]

Be very careful on the stretch just south of Melida. Last week I was on my own and a dog came towards me and started being aggressive, unknown to me, another dog came from behind and grabbed my left thigh and took a chunk out of it. I needed hospital attention. I told the local police, basically they said the are aware of a dog problem in that area.

Gosh that sounds awful! I hope you healed up quickly. I once walked through an area on the Madrid route where we had to walk through a group of cows with very large horns. I was freaking out because we were in the middle of nowhere and those cows weren't moving. It was fine but still I don't trust those animals. Now I'll be sure to watch out for dogs. I'm going to Merida not Melida. Is this the place you mean? Robin

 

[Robo]

Be very careful on the stretch just south of Melida. Last week I was on my own and a dog came towards me and started being aggressive, unknown to me, another dog came from behind and grabbed my left thigh and took a chunk out of it. I needed hospital attention. I told the local police, basically they said the are aware of a dog problem in that area.

Thanks for the warning.
So between Torremejia and Merida?

 

[Rita Flower]

I'll be walking the VdlP for the first time in a couple of weeks. Starting in Sevilla, hoping to make it to Cañaveral. Do you have any tips for me? Places to see, pilgrim's mass, albergues to stay in, history of the route... etc. I'd appreciate any comments you can leave! Robin

I asked the same question last year and got heaps of replies. Comments on things of interest is further down the thread.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/via-del-la-plata-in-early-sept-who-else-will-be-there.75459/

The only thing I missed was a hostel? with an original Roman hot spring / spa . Heard about it from some fellow pilgrims. The hot springs in Ourense made up for it.
Gerald’s guide is excellent - I’m pretty sure he mentioned it but I missed the reference.
Gronze also has a section on what to see in various towns. After I found this section of Gronze it was incredibly helpful.

 

[Burro]

I plan to start the de la Plata about April 14th. I have some books and maps; however, I'm not clear about all distances. 30 KM is an ideal day for me, I can go up to 40 KM in a pinch. I'm thinking 33 to 35 should be enough days. Does this seem reasonable? I'm planning a couple of days in Barcelona and then expect to start about April 16th .

 

[Bradypus]

I'm thinking 33 to 35 should be enough days. Does this seem reasonable?

I usually average about 30km per day too on a longer Camino. I walked the VdlP in January/February 2022 and took 33 days. Given what you say about your own preferred distances your plan sounds ok but it would be too fast for most.

 

[Rita Flower]

I plan to start the de la Plata about April 14th. I have some books and maps; however, I'm not clear about all distances. 30 KM is an ideal day for me, I can go up to 40 KM in a pinch. I'm thinking 33 to 35 should be enough days. Does this seem reasonable? I'm planning a couple of days in Barcelona and then expect to start about April 16th .

Sevilla to Santiago via Sanabres is 1007 Km so at 30 Km per day that’s 34 days walking. However if you can afford more time you might want to take it. There are some wonderful landscapes and historic towns along the way in which you might want to linger. Sevilla, Salamanca, Cásares, and Ourense to name a few.
I used Gronze and Camino Ninja which had a great interactive map. CN is not available at the moment but Wise Pilgrim seems to be the ‘go to’ app these days. Between those two you should have all the info you need.
There are some long stages between services particularly in the early weeks but it sounds like you will be fine to manage those distances.
I walked in October/November but there should be quite a few people on VDLP in April as spring is a favourite time to walk this Camino.
Wishing you well on my favourite Camino.
Buen Camino.

 

[C clearly]

I'm thinking 33 to 35 should be enough days.

The other thing to consider is that sometimes you must choose between a very long day and a very short day, in order to find accommodation - you cannot walk 30 km every day. So, it can be important to allow a few extra days in case you need to choose the very short days for some unexpected reason - it could be that you have an injury, or an expected lodging is closed and the long option becomes TOO long.

 

[Bradypus]

The other thing to consider is that sometimes you must choose between a very long day and a very short day, in order to find accommodation - you cannot walk 30 km every day.

That's the main reason I carried and used a bivvy bag on both my VdlP walks. Sometimes the accommodation is just badly placed for what I considered a good day's walking. So I spent half a dozen nights in a bivvy bag when the weather was cooperative and slept very well too!

 

[Burro]

Thanks for the information. At this time I expect to arrive in Seville on Sunday April 16 and start walking on the Monday or Tuesday. If anyone has any thoughts on where to stay that would be helpful.

 

[Jeff B]

Thanks for the information. At this time I expect to arrive in Seville on Sunday April 16 and start walking on the Monday or Tuesday. If anyone has any thoughts on where to stay that would be helpful.

I've stayed at La Flamenka Hostel. It was good, close to 'old town' and start of the Camino.

 

[Burro]

I've stayed at La Flamenka Hostel. It was good, close to 'old town' and start of the Camino.

Thanks Jeff

 

[Anniesantiago]

We have tried to finish the VDLP several times and it seems something always happens. Last time it was COVID. We started in 2009 and in 2020 we were still trying to finish.
In Sevilla we enjoyed staying in Hotel Zaida.
For us, a separate day to Italica was worth taking if you like history and archaeology.
We slept outside at Castiblanco, on the roof and again slept outside on the patio at Casa Forestal.
Be SURE to take enough water before walking through that section.
Rebekah had warned us - we didn't listen and were rescued by firemen who brought us water!

In 2013 I walked in May and the wildflowers were spectacular!
Be sure to spend some time in the thermal baths at Aljucin. Special rates for pilgrims.
Merida was spectacular and worth 2 days. Theater and Ampitheater, Roman Circus, Alcazaba, Mithraeum House, Columbaria Archaeological Museum and don't miss the Santa Eulalia Crypt. All are worth seeing.
2 different years there we have slept in Hostal Abadias, though the albergue is nice and on the waterfront.
The Albergue del Peregrinos at Alcuescar is lovely.
At Caceres I like Albergue Veltetas. I believe I ran into Luka there one year.
I can't help you past Caceres, as I just can't seem to make it past there.
Maybe next season you can give ME some hints for the rest of the route!
Buen Camino!

If you go to my blog and do a search on VDLP or Via de la Plata, you can see some photos of the trails and albergues.
Sevilla to Fuente de Cantos
Zafra to Caceres

 

[sharon w]

We also stayed in Hotel Zaida in Sevilla. It was beautiful.

 

[Jim Bispham]

Thanks for the info, sorry to hear you were attacked by a dog. We will be on the look out for them. Was that near Merida or Melide?

Melida

 

[C clearly]

Melida

We are confused, because there is a town called Mélida that doesn't seem to be on any Camino, a town called Melide on the Camino Francés, and a city called Mérida on the Vía de la Plata (which is the topic of this thread).