After the Roman conquests, the economic and strategic importance of the Lusitanian province and its proximity to the more Romanized Baetica pushed Rome to logically construct and expand roads. As a r... (plus +)

After the Roman conquests, the economic and strategic importance of the Lusitanian province and its proximity to the more Romanized Baetica pushed Rome to logically construct and expand roads. As a result of these necessary constructions for the good Roman administration of Lusitania, the Augusta Emerita itinerary would be born, leading to the current Mérida, with Asturica Augusta, now Astorga, and to the south with the capital of Baetica: Hispalis, the current Seville, the main focus of the Romanization of the Iberian Peninsula. This Roman road, documented by the Antonine Itinerary between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, would be called by different names over time, currently retaining the name given during the Arab occupation, that is, Vía de la Plata, which comes from the term balat, meaning pavement. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the road served for the penetration of peoples with invading pretensions, as well as a means of spreading Christianity on the peninsula. The discovery of the tomb of the Apostle James served for millions of pilgrims from all over the world to use it to visit the tomb. From that moment on, the Vía de la Plata had a very special meaning for those who, from the southern part of the peninsula, made the pilgrimage along the Mozarabic Way to Santiago de Compostela. Villafranca de los Barros is a mandatory stop for hundreds of pilgrims who decide to walk the Mozarabic Way of Santiago or the Vía de la Plata, which connects Seville with Santiago de Compostela. This route, consisting of 1,000 km of paths, has been a protagonist in much of the history and culture of humanity over the centuries. The most common option for the Camino de Santiago is on foot, although a significant number of people prefer to do it by bicycle, and even some on horseback. It takes about a month to walk. The route is divided into thirty-four stages, starting from Seville to Santiago de Compostela. Itinerary of the stage from Zafra to Villafranca de los Barros. 20.7 km We leave Zafra by the old road, using the tower of San Francisco as a reference, the only remains of an old convent from the 15th century, which is the reference that remains to the right. We pass by it and a housing development to take the path that ascends, between private properties, to the Sierra de San Cristóbal. We descend through a pine forest to the entrance of Los Santos de Maimona, which is five kilometers from the starting point. We enter through Zafra street and continue to the Plaza de España. Here, in front of the Town Hall, is the Church of Our Lady of the Angels, which we go around to the left to pass by its plateresque facade. We must not lose sight of the trail of yellow arrows that lead us to cross the EX - 364 road and continue through the streets of the town. We leave Los Santos de Maimona by crossing the bridge over the Ribera del Rio Robledillo. To our right, more than a kilometer away, are the railway tracks and our inseparable N-630. Ahead, a long stretch of vineyards and very old olive trees. We will pass - kilometer 12 of the stage - next to the detour to an old oil mill, converted into a tourist hostel, although currently closed. Later, we reach the junction with the road to Ribera del Fresno or to the Moors. We turn right towards the railway tracks and the N-630. We walk along its shoulder for a few meters, passing under the bridge of the highway, and leave the road for a well-signposted path that starts on the right. We leave the national road behind and turn left again to advance four kilometers to Villafranca de los Barros. We enter this town through a regional road and, guided by the tiles decorated with the yellow scallop shell, we walk through the streets of las Caballeras, Zurbarán, Martínez, and Larga to reach the square where the parish church of Our Lady of the Valley is located, recently declared a Cultural Heritage Site. We pass through the Plaza de España, where the Town Hall and the Tourist Office are located. We go up Calle Santa Joaquina, Plaza Corazón de Jesús, and Calle Calvario to reach the Sanctuary of Ntra. Sra. la Virgen Coronada. On the left, we take Calle de San Ignacio, passing in front of the entrance to the impressive Jesuit College of San José. A private education center that offers a special service to welcome pilgrims, offering them the possibility of stamping their credential there, or visiting the magnificent neo-Gothic chapel. Upon leaving, we pass in front of the Meléndez Valdés Institute. We take the path and, seven hundred meters ahead, we cross the road BA-6004. We continue, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards.
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