“The Lovers of Teruel” is a popular local legend that has given birth to street names, tourist tchotchkes, and even an entire museum attached the glorious church of San Pedro in Teruel.
The story goes like this:
The lovers, Juan Diego de Marcella and Isabel de Segura were living in the city of Teruel. Their early friendship quickly turned to love. Rejected by her family for his lack of wealth, Juan Diego took a post of five years in the army in order to raise his fortune. He left for the war and returned to Teruel when his post ended. Isabel, in the mean time, had married another man from Albarracin. Juan Diego managed to get her alone and begged her for a kiss. Isabel rejected him and the young man died from a broken heart. The following day, the funeral celebrations took place in the church of San Pedro. A woman in mourning moved close to the coffin. It is Isabel who wants to impart that kiss that she had denied him previously. She kisses him and suddenly dies by his side.
In 1555, the buried mummies were (purportedly) found in the Chapel of San Cosme y Damien. According to the testimony of the notary, an old document recording the events was also found.
The museum showcases statues of the lovers that were placed over their mummies. The hands are just out of reach, symbolizing their tragic story.
A contemporary work of art involving the story of the lovers is displayed in the museum.
The Church of San Pedro has undergone several renovations but it still retains Moorish features. It’s a stunning sight.
Teruel was a fun find and was small enough that we could walk everywhere – this viaduct spans across the gorge below.
While we were in Teruel we took a drive to a nearby town – Albarracin. Its streets are laid out with flights of steps, passageways and russet-colored houses with timber-framed walls.
The guidebook says that the village is “a magnet for lovers of sketching, painting, and photography.” It’s a long climb to the top but interesting architecture and excellent views await.
As much as we’ve enjoyed the small towns we’ve visited in Spain, we were ready to get back to the bright lights of the city. We turned in the rental car a couple of days early and we’re back in Valencia for 2 nights. We’ll take the train to Madrid for 5 nights on Saturday. If you’re still with us, thanks for following along! Sharon and Larry