The route known as the Ruta de la Plata runs between the towns of Gij�n and Seville, from the north to the south of Spain, crossing a total of four Autonomous Communities (Andaluc�a, Extremadura, Castilla y Le�n and the Principality of Asturias) and eight provinces (Oviedo, Le�n, Zamora, Salamanca, C�ceres, Badajoz, Huelva and Seville).

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A little history.
This route, also known as the V�a de la Plata, was built during the Roman occupation of the Iberian peninsula. Known in Roman times as Iter ab Emerita Asturicam, meaning Road from M�rida to Astorga. Its construction was begun under the orders of Emperor Augustus just before the birth of Christ, and was finalised in the second century AD. At the time it was one of the most important routes of the peninsula, as it joined up the Roman town of M�rida (called Lusitania by the Romans), with the northern camps, mainly used to protect the rich mining areas of the Leonese region. The original Roman route was later extended to the sea on both sides, up to Gij�n in the north and down to Seville in the south. Seville was for centuries one of the peninsula's most important ports via the navigable river Guadalquivir.

Roman remains
The Ruta de la Plata currently runs along the 816 kilometres separating Seville and Gij�n via the N-630. The touristic and cultural possibilities of this route are many and varied, as it passes such towns as Seville, M�rida, C�ceres, Plasencia, Salamanca, Zamora and Gij�n. However, in this section we shall concentrate on the many Roman remains that can be found along the this extensive route, including bridges, houses, villas, forts and milestones, in other words, traffic signals.
- The old Roman road. There are still significant stretches of this road, although you clearly need to leave the N-630 to see them. Many have been converted into specialised trekking routes for nature lovers. One of the best preserved examples is the Calzada de Dalmacia, that runs through the towns of Coria, Calzadilla and Casas de Don G�mez in Extremadura.
- M�rida. Founded by the Emperor Augustus 25 AD under the name Augusta Em�rita, this is an obligatory stop on the route. The Roman theatre is the most famous monument, but there is also the aqueduct of los Milagros, the aqueduct of San L�zaro, the ampitheatre, the arch of Trajan, the Roman House of Mitreo, the Roman circus, the Temple of Diana and the National Museum of Roman Art.�
- Montijos. A few kilometres from M�rida on the road to Montijos is the Proserpina dam, considered the largest Roman reservoir in the Mediterranean.
- C�ceres. Protected by the UNESCO and the EU, C�ceres still retains Roman remains in its old town, as well as many examples of the later Muslim occupation.
- Calzada de B�jar. This small village near B�jar contains an impressive Roman fortress, which was for centuries an obligatory stop for travellers and merchants.
- Ba�os de Montemayor. The spa baths of this town still retain their thermal origin dating back to Roman times. On leaving the town, you will find a restored Roman road that runs for three kilometres into the Salamanca region.
- Astorga. This town near Leon was founded by the Emperor Augustus under the name Asturica Augustea. It still retains some Roman remain, including the original Roman walls.