STAGE 18 Aldeanueva del Camino - La Calzada de Béjar

We leave Aldeanueva by road towards Baños de Montemayor. We pass the ‘El Cubo’ rest area and enter the town via the Humilladero chapel, the monument to the Pilgrim and the mural commemorating the Vía de la Plata. The town has its origins in the famous thermal baths, whose remains, dating back to Roman times, are still preserved. They are ideal for recovering from the rigours of the journey. The many bars and shops in the village make it easy for pilgrims to stock up on supplies.

The exit from Baños de Montemayor is via the reconstructed road to a fountain, and further on we pass a Roman sewer.

We leave Extremadura and enter Castile and León. Puerto Béjar, at an altitude of almost 1,000 metres, is the first Castilian town we come to. There are hotels and restaurants on the road.

Next to the Carmen gardens, we pass under the motorway, where the road is represented as it runs through the land of Salamanca. We begin a gentle descent to the Malena bridge over the Cuerpo de Hombre river. The path, road and river share the same space for a few kilometres shortly before Calzada de Béjar. We enter via the main street, which is also a road. Here, 21st-century pilgrims can find everything they need and will feel as if they have travelled back in time, strolling through the medieval architecture or under the well-preserved arcades.