STAGE 17 Oliva de Plasencia - Aldeanueva del Camino

Leaving Oliva de Plasencia, we can return to Venta Quemada to rejoin the Cañada Real de la Plata, or go directly to Cáparra via the Los Baldíos estate, the latter being the route we recommend.

It is a pleasant walk that takes us under the Arco de Cáparra, an emblematic site on the Vía de la Plata and the only quadriform triumphal arch on the Iberian Peninsula. Work is currently underway to restore the lost Roman settlement, as we can see at its interpretation centre (check opening hours), which has toilets and vending machines for food and drink.

We continue walking along the road with the delightful landscape of the Extremaduran pastureland until we reach Aldeanueva del Camino. This town welcomes us with a tiled landmark that reproduces the Roman itinerary of the Calzada and a beautiful mural. This road divided it into two towns: Aldeanueva del Camino, the lower part, belonging to the Kingdom of León and the Diocese of Coria, and Casas de Aldeanueva, the upper part, belonging to the Kingdom of Castile and the Diocese of Plasencia. For this reason, it had two parishes with two churches, both of which are still standing today. This division lasted until 1834 when the two towns were unified. During the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, it had a hospital for pilgrims. The architecture of Aldeanueva is becoming more mountainous, as evidenced by the popular chestnut wood balconies in the Plaza Mayor.