Spain from A to Z

built cities, circuses, temples, aqueducts, bridges, arches and fortresses and created a wide variety of traditional culture, folklore, handicrafts and much more. The route begins in Seville, formerly known as Hispalis. From there it goes past the ruins of Itálica, a former town in the Roman province of Baetica, and across Zafra and Almendralejo to Mérida, the so-called Spanish Rome. Then it continues towards Cáceres and Plasencia. In Castile-León, the route eventually leads through Béjar and Salamanca. Continuing north, it reaches Zamora, and from there leads through corn fields and past lagoons to Benavente. The next stops are Astorga and León. Campomanes and Pola de Lena are the first stages in Asturian territory, before the silver road reaches Oviedo and finally, Gijón. THE WINDMILL ROUTE IN LA MANCHA Following the footsteps of Don Quixote de La Mancha This route leads through one of the most famous areas of Spain, La Mancha. Not far from the city of Toledo, this area sets the stage for the adventures of Don Quixote, the main character of a novel of the same name written by Miguel de Cervantes. Characteristic of this tour are the broad plains and low hillocks on which the landmarks of this region stand: www.rutadelaplata.com/en

the windmills of La Mancha. A good starting point for the tour is the stately town of Orgaz, where you can visit a medieval castle, a noble house, the church of Santo Tomás and the arches of San José and Belén (two of the former four city gates). Nearby, in Arisgotas, is the Visigoth Museum. Six kilometres further on is Mora, a town known for its exquisite olive oil. On the way to Tembleque, you will pass two windmills typical of the La Mancha region. After another six kilometres you will come to El Romeral with its four windmills, the Ethnographic Museum and the Esparto Museum. The last two stops of the trip are Consuegra and Madridejos. The 12 impressive windmills in Consuegra house ethnographic exhibitions. They date back to the 16th century and form the so- called ridge of La Mancha near Consuegra due to their linear arrangement on the top of the Cerro Calderico. In Madridejos you will find the last windmill of the trip, the Tío Genaro mill, which is free to visit. Also free of charge are the Saffron Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the ethnological museums of Silo del Tío Zoquete and Silo del Tío Colorao. The Church of El Divino Salvador, the Monastery of Santa Clara, the pilgrimage chapel of Cristo del Prado and the Casa de las Cadenas are also worth a visit.

THE SILVER WAY From South to North

After the capture of the Iberian Peninsula by the Romans in 218 BC, roads and streets became more important. From the 1st to the 19th century, the Silver Way was the main pillar on which new roads and streets were built. During the Middle Ages, cattle trails were of great importance; it was along these that the honourable council of the Mesta (the union of sheep breeders) drove its sheep herds. For this reason, the Silver Way is an extraordinary piece of artistic-historical heritage, as it is brimming with art and other remains of a civilization that

www.spain.info/en/consultas/ rutas/rutas-culturales.html

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