Andy Rodker's photos with the keyword: Roman Road

I think it can truly be called a fence, in a strictly minimalistic sense! From the Roman Road near El Escorial. This holm oak (encina in Spanish) is a pretty fine specimin imho! The skyline follows the crest of La Sierra de Guadarrama. I always had a soft spot for this gentle little pop song by this well known popular beat combo. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVwA5wVnwaE

Between El Escorial and Zarzalejo, Madrid Province. A very mild January day.

One of the better preserved sections of this Roman road near El Escorial. This was on a bitterly cold winter's day, this year. The trees in the background must be oaks as they are in full leaf still and don't tend to shed their leaves until February, in the main. Sight and Sound. Again, simply because I like it! Please forgive my self-indulgence! www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBvt01zMBrc

Up (or down) a steep-ish incline and not quite a straight line! Between San Lorenzo de El Escorial and Zarzalejo. Madrid Province.

Near the Roman Road (it crossed here but all traces are gone under newer vegetation and walls). Between El Escorial and Zarzalejo Estacíon. Siete Picos (A seven peak mountain ridge) can just be seen in the gap - towards the right - between the trees. On Z and full screen, please.

Much eroded by water mainly.

The first in a series to come of GREAT fences! I have been bemoaning the lack of fences in my gallery because of their absence where I go walking (Central Spain and Cornwall). Then, suddenly, on my walk last weekend, I saw the light! The fences had been there all the time!! More fences in fact than I could ever have dreamed of! I just hadn't recognised them as such! But they are; and superb specimens as you will see (and here too!) :o))) I'm rather fond of this oak tree as well! Taken from the Roman Road again.

Please see my notes to the earlier posted shot for general info. Again, the paving stones, although much eroded, have been left in place as they were too useful in providing traction on this steep slope. A shot from a slightly different POV: www.ipernity.com/doc/2247598/47246248

This is a strange Roman road because it doesn't seem to link any obvious Roman towns. In the very few sections such as this where the stones haven't been stolen for local buildings and walls, the indication is that the road was an important one. The best guess is that it leads to and from mining areas in the mountains of central Spain. After the Romans, it soon fell into disuse as evidenced by the fact that its course is nowhere followed by a modern road. (I will upload 2-3 others in the next few days). This one from the past; www.ipernity.com/doc/2247598/45511204

Machota Chica from the Roman Road, Zarzalejo.

Near El Escorial, Madrid Province. This is the best preserved section of the road. I imagine later inhabitants of the area felt that the stones were more useful left in place here as help in tackling the steep slope that to build walls with!

If you follow the Roman road, or this path anyway (which approximates to it), then you have to duck under this tree.

The mountains are the Sierra de Guadarrama. This section of road is fully paved for a very short but steep stretch. The steepness was probably what kept the stones from being taken for other purposes in later history. Otherwise this steep section would have been impossible in the mud!

By the side of the Roman Road near Zarzalejo and El Escorial.

The Roman road went slightly to the left of here and is now in private property but it is rejoined soon enough. To follow a line that is straight from an aerial photo isn't necessarily straight on the ground. The Romans were practical and didn't plough a path relentlessly through all obstacles. They would go round a hill if necessary! My guess is that this wall was constructed partially from the paving slabs of the road.

By the Roman road - near El Escorial and Zarzalejo.