The Vía de la Plata is the longest Jacobean route, as a prolongation of the Roman road that crossed the western Iberian Peninsula from south to north, linking the cities of Emerita Augusta (Mérida) and Asturica Augusta (Astorga). After the conquest of Seville and Cordoba in the 13th century, this south-north was spontaneously reused by Jacobean pilgrims from Andalusia and Extremadura. Some continued as far as Astorga, joining the French Way. Others headed towards Compostela via the route from Puebla de Sanabria to Ourense, which was shorter and straighter, while some crossed northeast Portugal and entered the south of Ourense province towards Verín.

Map of Santiago Via the Silver Road