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I better read up on these places and select a few. Thank you.The problem with the Vdlp is that there are way too many nice places to stop. Caceres has an absolutely beautiful Renaissance old core, Merida has Roman ruins galore and a stunning museum, Salamanca has the University and the most beautiful (or one of the most beautiful) plaza mayor in the country, and Zamora has 26 romanesque churches. Ourense has its pretty parts and great public thermal baths, so you will have a hard time choosing. Buen camino, Laurie
And spend a little time in Galisteo! Maybe not an extra night but a few hours definitely worth the trouble. As is Calzada de Bejár....UNESCO listed. Like another member said: too many quaint and interesting little places. Just don’t stand still for longer than a minute with a backpack on as the locals will bail you up and try to give directions to where the Camino is.Here are a few thoughts, in order of preference. I make no attempt to be objective in these rankings - If I have the good fortune to meet nice people and have a good meal, I tend to like a place. Is that fair? Of course not. What can I say?:
1) Merida - I spent three days enjoying incredible roman ruins, superb museums, and great food.
2) Salamanca - Definitely worth spending an extra night. Beautiful architecture, museums. The best wine that I had on VDLP was from Salamanca to Zamora. Albergue is good but limits pilgrims to one night. Fortunately, I found an excellent and cheap AirBnB with a helpful host, Raùl: (https://www.airbnb.co.uk/users/show/10163715)
3) Zamora - Incredible concentration of 10th to 12th century churches in one city. Awesome gallery of Balthazar Lobo - and several of his sculptures around the city. Albergue was good with the nicest Canadian hospitaleras (but they rotate every two weeks, so you could be lucky like me ... or not). I didn't enjoy the museums of ethnography and Holy Week so much.
4) Ourense (Camino Sanabres) - Nice enough city centre. Good food culture - My first pulpo gallego. The "Japanese" hot springs failed to match my expectations. If I were to go again, I'd just take a quick bath in the free springs.
5) Caceres - Incredibly well preserved medieval centre. Unfortunately, I found the albergue unfriendly and not terribly clean. I also had a dinner in the main square that didn't sit well inside me. This put me in the wrong mood to appreciate it.
A few places that don't merit a second night, but are worth exploring for a few hours
Puebla de Sanabria - Pretty old centre with interesting architecture and views
Baños de Montemayor - Hot springs in town are open until 8pm. Albergue is a museum.
The problem with the Vdlp is that there are way too many nice places to stop. Caceres has an absolutely beautiful Renaissance old core, Merida has Roman ruins galore and a stunning museum, Salamanca has the University and the most beautiful (or one of the most beautiful) plaza mayor in the country, and Zamora has 26 romanesque churches. Ourense has its pretty parts and great public thermal baths, so you will have a hard time choosing. Buen camino, Laurie