Via Nova
Campo do Gerês
Roman road in Iberia
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the Via Nova, also known as the Geira or Via XVIII of the Antonine Itinerary. This is not just a path through the woods; it is a remarkable engineering feat from the first century A.D. …
Listen in the app2The Milestones of Mile 31 — Political Monuments
One of the most impressive sites along the Via Nova is the collection of milestones at Roman Mile 31. Here, you will find a set of 21 milestones clustered together. …
Listen in the app3The Engineering of the Geira — Bridges and Quarries
Building the Via Nova was a Herculean task. The Roman engineers had to adapt the road to the difficult terrain and the volatile climate of the Gerês. …
Listen in the app4The Governor’s Ambition — Valerius Festus
The construction of the Via Nova is credited to Gaius Calpetanus Rantius Quirinalis Valerius Festus, the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis around 80 A.D. Festus was a fascinating and complex figure. …
Listen in the app5Mile 32 and the Usurpers — Magnentius and Decentius
At Mile 32, we find another significant group of 23 stones, seven of which have legible inscriptions. These stones tell a story of the later Roman Empire and the constant power struggles that defined it. …
Listen in the app6The Clandestine Museum at Portela de Homem
As we reach the frontier with Spain at Portela de Homem, we find a curious chapter in the preservation of the Via Nova. In the 1980s, when the modern frontier post was being built, a large number of milestones were moved here to…
Listen in the app7The Geira Forest — Nature as a Protector
A significant portion of the Via Nova runs through the Gerês forest, particularly the stretch between milestones 29 and 34. This forest has been a silent protector of the road for two millennia. …
Listen in the app8Final Reflections — The Complex Jigsaw of History
As our exploration of the Via Nova comes to a close, reflect on what we have seen. This is not just a collection of stones; it is a complex jigsaw of history. …
Listen in the app9Closing
Our journey along the Via Nova concludes here, but the road continues on, crossing into Spain and toward the ancient city of Astorga. We have seen how a 'new road' built by a governor of immoderate ambition became one of the…
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What is Via Nova?
Via Nova is a place in Campo do Gerês with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Campo do Gerês |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 9 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 41.7868, -8.1622 |
| Last updated |