Aldeanueva del Camino is another market town or road street, developed by the passage of the large transhumant herds that traveled through the northwest of the peninsula twice a year looking for the best pastures. And at the same time serving the pilgrims and travelers who have traveled along the Vía de la Plata for centuries. The facades have wooden arcades and balconies filled with flower pots, there are medieval bridges and stone fountains. The route connects with the Camino de Santiago at the Garganta Buitrera bridge, of Roman origin, and heads towards Plasencia for the Jacobean pilgrims. The exit from the town is easy through some gardens and immediately passes through the highway tunnel and enters the Vía de la Plata or Vizana livestock route. The time has come to test your gravel riding skills and patience. In reality there are only about 300 complicated meters, they are downhill and it is a very broken dirt track, with stones, ditches and some simple steps, 100% cyclable with care. And then the route continues through the pastoral ravine on an uncomplicated dirt road until the last hundred meters before exiting to the N-630, where we had to remove some brambles because they blocked the path.
This loop along the Jacobean route is worth it to cycle through the great peasant plateau of the Llanos de la Jarilla, gliding through beautiful pastures of cork oaks and holm oaks. The best moment is when the Roman city of Cáparra and the famous arch of four pillars appear, a jewel of Roman architecture unique in Spain. The monument has a particular attraction and has become one of the symbols of the Vía de la Plata. The passage through the arch is spoiled by the fences that separate the Jacobean route from the rest of the archaeological site, but it remains a fundamental milestone in one of the most notable historical routes in Spain. The path continues parallel to the paved Roman road, crosses a small hill and turns to the left to begin the end of the journey through Oliva de Plasencia, the town of crochet, in the streets there are benches, trees, fountains, characters, monuments and crowds. of elements decorated with crochet. At the exit of the town you have to take a farm road to the left of the pools and go down some barren hills to the valley of the Garganta de la Oliva. The lane passes through a farmhouse and finally climbs to the route of the Nature Trail. The return to Plasencia follows the route through the spectacular Jerte River bridge and the San Lázaro tunnel.