Silver Route by car: Nature, Culture, and Cuisine

The Silver Route, which traverses Spain from Gijón to Seville, crosses four regions and seven provinces, offering a blend of nature, history, and gastronomy. The journey highlights cities such as Gijón, Oviedo, León, Salamanca, Mérida, and Seville, each with its own cultural heritage. It is a route accessible by car, motorcycle, or camper van, which connects with the Camino de Santiago and allows for the enjoyment of Roman monuments, diverse landscapes, and a rich culinary tradition.

The A-66 motorway, known as the Silver Route motorway, allows you to travel from north to south by car through the western part of Spain, starting in Gijón and reaching Seville over a distance of 809 kilometers. It is the second longest motorway in Spain after the Mediterranean motorway (A-7), and offers a varied compendium of nature, culture, and gastronomy from different regions of Spain.

We must not confuse it with the Silver Route, a Roman road that covered the route from Emerita Augusta or Mérida (Badajoz) to Asturica Augusta or Astorga (León), which is now traversed on foot by pilgrims from southern Spain, although they only share the name and some sections and cities. The main difference between the two is that the Silver Route is designed to be traveled by motor, whether by car, motorcycle, or even camper van. Shall we start the engines?

Where do we travel by car on the Silver Route?

Our journey through the Silver Route by car begins in the northern peninsula and will take us to explore four autonomous communities and seven provinces. We start in Asturias and move to Castilla y León through the provinces of León, Zamora, and Salamanca. It then connects with Extremadura, passing through Cáceres and Badajoz, and finally reaches Andalucía through the province of Seville, where this route concludes.

There will be many towns and cities that you can visit on the Silver Route, and in this article, we will see the main cities that you should not miss on your adventure. This route allows you to soak up a lot of culture and history with all the heritage that its cities and towns offer, nature with varied and unforgettable landscapes, and of course, all the typical gastronomy of the different regions.

What to see in Asturias?

In the 76 kilometers that run through the Principality of Asturias, the Autonomous Community with the least kilometers of the Silver Route, there are several towns that we can visit, and we will present three of them: Gijón, Oviedo and Mieres.

Gijón

In addition to enjoying its famous San Lorenzo beach, we can immerse ourselves in over 2,000 years of Roman culture by visiting the archaeological park of Campa de Torres, dated from 490 B.C., the Roman Villa of Veranes, or the baths of Campo Valdés, a building from the 1st century A.D. We cannot forget the Gijón of today with its beautiful fishing district of Cimavilla.

Other attractions include the Revillagigedo palace and the collegiate church of San Juan Bautista, dated from the 18th century, the birthplace of Jovellanos, the palace of Jove Huergo, and the chapel of Trinidad await us. Before leaving, we can admire the sculpture by Eduardo Chillida, “Elogio del Horizonte,” located on the San Lorenzo promenade, as well as visit the aquarium and the botanical garden as a final touch to our stay in Gijón. You will surely see pilgrims, as the Camino de Santiago del Norte passes through this city.

Oviedo

In the Asturian capital, there is much to visit, as Oviedo played a very important role in the history of Spain and is a key point in the birth of the Camino de Santiago, as from the “Vetusta” of Leopoldo Alas Clarín, the Primitive Way is born, considered the first of the Jacobean routes.

We begin with the Cathedral of El Salvador, the starting point of the Primitive Way and the endpoint of the Way of El Salvador, which begins in León. Inside, you will find the Holy Chamber, with the Cross of Victory, symbol of the Principality of Asturias, and the Cross of Angels, symbol of the city. In the Fontán square, you must visit its market, which offers all kinds of fresh products and is the nerve center of the city. Of course, stroll down Manuel Pedregal street, or in other words, the street of wines in the city, where the people of Oviedo enjoy all the splendor of their gastronomy.

Mieres

Mieres is nestled in a bucolic natural setting that bears witness to a strong mining tradition, and indeed in Paz square, the locals pay tribute to their miners with a deserved monument to the Miner. Just a few steps away is the palace of the Marquis of Camposagrado, where you can admire one of the best collections of paintings in Asturias, as well as visit a building declared a Cultural Heritage Site.

In the historic center of the city, you should not overlook Jovellanos park and Requexu square, where the monument to the Pourer pays homage to the culture of Asturian cider; after a good walk, what better than to sit at one of its terraces and taste a good cider well poured. Asturian pote or fabada from Asturias complete the experience of the city's gastronomy.

What to see in Castilla y León?

The Silver Route takes us through the lands of Castilla y León over 330 kilometers, making the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León the one with the most mileage. We will present great and significant cities such as León, Zamora, and Salamanca, although there are many more towns and regions that can be explored during this adventure in old Castilla.

León

This city is pure history and a magnificent place to spend a weekend, a city that also has a great Jacobean tradition as the French Way runs through it. There are so many things hidden in León that you must discover: the medieval wall, the Roman crypts, the provincial heritage of the León museum, the impressive and beautiful Cathedral of Santa María de Regla de León, Gothic from the 13th century with colorful stained glass windows featuring its rose windows, the Casa Botines museum by Gaudí, the Guzmanes Palace, the Count Luna Palace, the Plaza Mayor, among many other points. Of course, the Húmedo district in its old area offers you the best gastronomy of the city.

Zamora

From Zamora, we will begin to coincide with the Silver Way of the pilgrimage. This city has a medieval old town with viewpoints over the Duero River that will leave us with wonderful images at sunset. In Zamora, the cathedral stands out, the oldest and smallest in the entire autonomous community; its architectural style falls within the Romanesque of the Duero, with a dome inspired by Byzantine designs.

Many other Romanesque churches can be visited, and within civil architecture, the 11th-century Castle is noteworthy. The Sayago cabins, the Roman mosaics preserved in the Zamora museum, the tin fountains and basins in Almaraz, the funerary stele of Villalcampo, and the funerary stele and Roman verraco of Muelas del Pan are also other remarkable Roman vestiges in this area. Of course, one must not forget to savor its gastronomy, let us not forget that we are on the banks of the Duero River.

Salamanca

We cannot miss stopping in this beautiful city where culture, history, and student bustle come together. Salamanca, also a key player in the Silver Way, contains many monuments that we could see, but we will highlight its imposing Plaza Mayor, the Casa de las Conchas, the two cathedrals (the new and the old), the oldest university in Spain, where we will search for its famous frog, the Casa Lis, the clergy house, or the Convent of San Esteban. In the capital of Salamanca, you should not forget to follow the traces of Saint Teresa of Jesus, in addition to enjoying its gastronomy, where suckling pig is king.

What to see in Extremadura?

With 300 kilometers within the Silver Route, in Extremadura we will find cities and towns where the Roman past is still very much alive. Mérida is undoubtedly the epicenter of this section where we follow the Silver Way, but along the way, we will encounter many towns and cities that will excite us, such as Plasencia, Cáceres, and Zafra.

Plasencia

A city rich in nature due to the multiple green areas with great diversity of birds that we will find in Plasencia, such as the Parque de Los Pinos. The old and new cathedrals take us on a journey that begins in the first in the 13th century and ends in the second in the 16th. The Episcopal Palace, the medieval interpretation center, the Palace of Mirabel or Monroy, and several of its churches, such as San Nicolás, San Martín, or the Hermitage of Our Lady of the Port, gift us with history and culture in equal measure. Be amazed by its imposing Roman aqueduct while you delight in the gastronomic products of Extremadura.

Cáceres

One of the Spanish cities where we will enjoy the cultural mix that various civilizations have bestowed upon it throughout the centuries. Founded by the Romans, in the old town of Cáceres we will see represented the Gothic and Renaissance styles, with the Moorish wall surrounding the city and its thirty towers with storks as luxury spectators. It is worth seeing the Bujaco tower, the Cáceres museum, the Gothic cathedral of Santa María, and the palace of the Golfines de Abajo, a very special house-fortress. Regarding its gastronomy, do not miss trying the migas extremeñas that they prepare in Cáceres.

Mérida

We arrive at the emblematic city of this Silver Way, Emerita Augusta. A very important site of the Silver Way, here we find many ‘Méridas’ in one: the Roman, the Visigothic, the Arab, the medieval, and the current. From the Mérida Roman period, the famous theater and amphitheater, the circus, the aqueduct, the temple of Diana, the arch of Trajan, the baths, and the national museum of Roman art are preserved. The basilica of Santa Eulalia or the Xenodoquium represent the Visigothic Mérida, while the Arab influence is evident with the alcazaba. Mérida, a city to get lost in each of its streets and delight in the flavors of its gastronomy, for which we recommend dedicating a couple of days.

Zafra

Around Zafra, we will find various Roman remains, while many others are integrated into the buildings of the town itself. The Palace of the Dukes of Feria from the 15th century is impressive, as is the collegiate church of La Candelaria, where we will find an exceptional collection of paintings by Zurbarán. The Grande and Chica squares connected by the Pan arch, the wall gate, and its churches, hermitages, and museums make Zafra an essential stop. A stopping point on the Silver Way, regarding its gastronomy, it is worth highlighting the gastronomic days themed around the Golden Age, which are celebrated during the "From the Moon to the Fire" festivities every June.

What to see in Andalusia?

We arrive in Andalusian lands to traverse the last stretch of 115 kilometers where two cities await us, Carmona and Seville. In both, we will continue to enjoy the Roman presence in this Silver Route and appreciate its constructions, many of which have gained fame beyond our borders.

Carmona

The main axis of this locality is the Via Augusta, where you can also enjoy the necropolis, a complex highlighted by the Tombs of the Elephant and Servilia. Its amphitheater from the 1st century BC, the Plaza Arriba which was part of the Roman forum, several mosaics in the town hall, the Córdoba gate, and the Roman bridge are other attractions of Carmona. The Mudéjar convent of Santa Clara from the 16th century and the church of San Pedro with the “Giraldilla” stand out. Enjoying its Andalusian gastronomy after a good visit is the best plan you can make during your stop in Carmona, a city of cinema, as it is the filming location for many movies.

Seville

We arrive at the end of our particular journey that concludes in Seville, where we will find numerous Roman heritage sites, highlighting the Casa Pilatos. You cannot miss visiting the Roman stones of the Giralda, the columns of the Alameda de Hércules, the temple on Calle Mármoles, and the remains of the aqueduct of the Caños de Carmona. In Seville, we find the cathedral and the Giralda, the Real Alcázar, and the Archivo de Indias, three monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In addition to this, a stroll through the city, better and more comfortably in a horse-drawn carriage, will take us through its historic streets to the Real Maestranza, the Torre del Oro, and the Plaza de España, enjoying beautiful buildings such as the Palacio de Lebrija and the Palacio de Las Dueñas.

A journey's end with the Guadalquivir as a silent witness to the passage of civilizations through this beautiful Andalusian city will be the crowning touch and will remind you that Seville has a special color. Regarding its gastronomy, if you coincide with the mythical Holy Week of Seville, do not miss trying the chickpeas with spinach, and if you dare with the snails, try the famous cabrillas; if not, be an authentic Sevillian by tasting a good sirloin with whiskey and a well-chilled cañita.

Practical Information

We have talked about the A66 motorway, which is free, but we must inform you that the route sometimes includes small sections of other toll roads (motorways).

To conclude, we provide you with a file that you can download with all the information about each of the cities and towns on this Silver Route, their festivals, typical foods, and shopping you can do. To top it off, we leave you a direct link to the map of the Silver Way with the cities and towns we can visit.

We hope that with this article you will embark on a journey with your car along this route, which is also related to the Camino de Santiago, and which has nothing to envy from the famous American Route 66. A contrast of landscapes and nature, rich history and diverse layers of culture, and a delicious and unique gastronomy are the guarantee of a trip for which, at a minimum, one week is necessary, although it is always better to dedicate more days to enjoy it 100%. Ah! And do not forget, caution on the road, dear driver.