Walking the Via de la Plata: The Camino de Santiago from Sevilla to Santiago de Compostela

Begin your journey in Andalucia, home to flamenco, tapas and splendid Moorish architecture, and bask in a sunny climate ideal for cork oaks, cacti and cotton. Then head north on a Roman road, crossing glorious arched bridges, and passing hippodromes, amphitheatres and fabulous mosaics. You'll pass through places made famous by rampaging Christian knights and wander through grand houses built by the conquistadores who overran the Americas. Finally, you'll cross into northwest Spain, green as Ireland and damp as can be, where thick stone houses and splendid rural architecture dot isolated mountainsides.

While you walk, we'll point out wildlife found nowhere else in the world, such as the Iberian lynx, the most endangered wild cat in the world. We'll introduce you to bizarre festivals where cows clamber up town walls or masked men batter spectators with large sticks. We'll help you sort out your fino from your amontillado, discover unique local wines, and try (or avoid) regional dishes from deep-fried rooster comb to spicy snails. And we'll smooth your journey with practical information, from places to stay to useful phrases in Castellano (Spanish) and Galego (Galician).