A getaway to Albarracín and Teruel, pure Aragonese essence

Albarracin Teruel

Of the three provinces that make up Aragon, Teruel is probably the most unknown. However, it is home to what has been considered the most beautiful town in Spain on numerous occasions. There are many qualities for which it deserves such recognition but, without a doubt, its geography, human work and time have made everything that is Albarracín fit in harmony.

Likewise, Teruel is a fascinating city in terms of its rich cultural heritage, its delicious gastronomy and its history. Since more than a decade ago its inhabitants have demanded more investment and infrastructure to grow with the famous motto Teruel exists, This province has shown that it has a lot to offer also on a tourist level: from the cultural, through nature and culinary.

Albarracín

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Located on a hill in the Universal Mountains, it is a medieval city settled on the isthmus and the peninsula that forms the Guadalaviar river. It is surrounded by a deep gash that acts as a defensive moat, complemented by the imposing belt of walls that culminate in the Castillo del Andador.

But the charm of Albarracín is above all in the layout of its streets adapted to the difficult topography of the terrain, with stairways and passageways. Every corner, every house is the object of admiration for its doors and knockers, its tiny windows with lace curtains, its continuous balconies in rich wrought iron and carved wood ... The main monument of Albarracín is the city itself, with all its popular flavor and aristocratic, a reflection of its history and the good work of its people.

Nevertheless. has many others that deserve special mention such as the Church of Santa Maria, the Cathedral, the Episcopa Palacel, some stately mansions and a peculiar popular architecture where the Julianeta house, the house on Azagra street, the Community square and the small and evocative Plaza Mayor stand out.

Teruel

teruel cathedral

It is located in the central area of ​​Spain in the south of the Aragon region. However, as we pointed out at the beginning of the post, Teruel is probably the least known of the three provinces that make up Aragon.

And it is curious because here we find one of the best examples of Mudejar art in the world, which has earned it to be recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Teruel is Mudejar

Mudejar is a symbiosis of the Romanesque and Gothic typical of the West and of the most characteristic decorative elements of Muslim architecture. This style only occurred in the Iberian PeninsulaIt was the place where both civilizations coexisted for several centuries.

Any visitor who likes medieval art will undoubtedly enjoy the rich historical and artistic heritage of Teruel. The Cathedral of Santa María was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 next to the tower and the dome of the temple. Its tower dates from 1257 and belongs to the tower-door model of great importance in Teruel art. It is considered the Sistine Chapel of Mudejar art thanks to its polychrome wooden ceiling decorated with medieval motifs. They offer a complete overview of the society of the Middle Ages.

The oldest Mudejar towers are from the XNUMXth century: that of San Pedro and that of the Cathedral. Its decoration is sober compared to those that were built later and has a clear Romanesque influence. Already in the XNUMXth century, the towers of El Salvador and San Martín were erected. Both are larger than the previous ones, have Gothic features and an exuberant decorative richness.

san pedro teruel church

Another of the best examples of Aragonese Mudejar art is the church of San Pedro. It is located near the Plaza del Torico (the nerve center of the city) and dates from the XNUMXth century despite the fact that its tower is older.

Its style is Gothic-Mudejar but over time it underwent several transformations. The most important took place at the end of the 1555th century and the beginning of the XNUMXth century, when the Teruel Salvador Gisbert painted its walls with a certain modernist historicist air so fashionable at the beginning of the century. This church is famous because in XNUMX the mummies of the Lovers of Teruel were discovered in the basement of one of the side chapels, which now rest in a beautiful mausoleum adjacent to the church of San Pedro.

Ecotourism in Teruel

From an ecotourism point of view, Teruel has managed to keep most of its natural spaces intact, which represents a gold mine for rural tourism. Some of its most spectacular corners are the Laguna de Gallocanta Nature Reserve, the Parrizal de Beceite, the Sierra de Albarracín or the protected landscape of the Pinares de Rodeno.

Destination for foodies

teruel ham

Many of the gourmet products that we currently eat have their origin in Teruel. This is the case of the delicious Ham from Teruel, the peaches from Calanda, the olive oil from Bajo Aragón, the lamb from Aragón, the saffron from Jiloca or some of the best specimens of black truffle that are used every season in the best restaurants in all of Spain. Could there be any more reason to visit and taste this land?

In short, Teruel is an art museum, a show of colors and flavors, a city committed to sport and full of surprises that awaits you with open arms.


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