THE HERITAGE OF THE ROMAN ROAD

The heritage considered historic and artistic is abundant and exceptional throughout the Silver Route. The cities of Mérida, Cáceres, Plasencia, Béjar, Salamanca, Zamora, Benavente and Astorga demonstrate it.

Besides this heritage, there is another one which has not reached such honour, but nevertheless it is still interesting  and worth visiting. We must take into account that the historical design of the Roman road goes through small localities where the heritage contribution is more modest. This fact does not rest its monumental character, its prosaic history and its artistic value.

Cathedrals, Palaces, Castles, monasteries, churches, chapels and bridges are spread in the itinerary everywhere. But the ethnographic heritage also arises with simplicity, living reflection of a lifestyle of not so far-off times. Therefore, it is about the Popular Culture.

The first evidence is seen by the traditional architecture in all its aspects, that is to say, houses and subsidiary or complementary constructions (mills, dovecots, huts,fountains, bridges, wells, spouts, etc.). Different typologies follow one another in the route, some noteworthy in a special way.

However, the cultural heritage is not limited to what we have already defined. It is necessary to take into account the non-tangible heritage, that is, the one referring to the values associated with the feelings of the people, made clear in their religiousness, in the manner of celebrating their patron saint festivities, in the different calendar of the saints' days festivities, or in the events of the annual cycle, mostly already typified by tradition. This reflection of lifestyle is transferred to music, dances, clothing and traditional jewellery, popular literature, traditional games and sports, cookery, confectionery, crafts, in short, to all those aspects which give personality to a town, region or province. Consequently, this heritage must be acknowledged, studied, protected and its continuity encouraged, as it is another great contribution of the human geography which gathers the Silver Route.

We can't left behind the contribution of the livestock tracks, as far as the Cañada Sorial Occidental (historical cattle track in Western Soria) and the Cañada de la Vizana (historical cattle track in Vizana) are concerned, as well as the cattle tracks that drew their course through by-roads, allowing the annual coming and going of the migrating cattle: it has to with the Pastoral Culture, value added to what has already been described.

Likewise, the scenic and natural environment of The Silver Route is one of its main charms. Its conservation should have priority. Cornavalvo Park, the ecosystem with pastures, the influence of Monfragüe, Bejar Sierra, the riversides and bleak plateau determine an incomparable wealth of the fauna and flora.

Pobladura del Valle

Church of Santo Tomás (dedicated to St. Thomas)
The front and the tower are the only rests of the original construction.