Category Archives: Teruel

The Mudejar Towers of Teruel / Torres Mudéjares de Teruel

Emblematic buildings, Teruel

mudejar towers teruel

Situated in the south of Aragón region, Teruel (35.000 inhabitants) is an ideal city to live and enjoy its interesting museums, unique architecture, traditional festivals, delicious gastronomy, among other things. Therefore, Teruel attracts visitors from all over the world in order to see its beautiful Mudéjar Towers of Santa Maria, San Pedro, Salvador and San Martín , which were declared World of Heritage sites in 1986 by UNESCO.

One option to know Teruel’s Mudéjar towers is to take a stroll around its streets , above all, distances are very short and are counted in minutes from Torico square to the Mudéjar towers.

 

San Pedro Tower

The San Pedro Tower was built in 1238 and is the most old Mudéjar building of Teruel city, its construction with rajolas (bricks) and green and manganese colour (dark purple) glazed ceramic tiles is very similar to Santa María Tower in the shape and decoration of its facades. Do not forget to go up to the tower from where one can see a scenic view of the city and surroundings.

Tourists should not leave this place without seeing the stunning San Pedro church which was built in 1319 and admiring the famous mausoleum of The Lovers of Teruel, all of them are worth a visit.

 

Tower of the Cathedral of Santa María

tower teruel 2The Mudéjar Tower of Santa María de Mediavilla Cathedral was constructed between 1257 and 1258 with rajolas (bricks) of green and manganese colours (dark purple) glazed ceramic tiles in the decoration of its facades. Moreover, the Cathedral an interesting 13th century building is worth visiting. In fact, its wooden techumbre (roof / ceiling ) has unique Mudéjar paintings. Being the most beautiful Mudéjar wooden techumbre ( ceiling /roof ) in Spain.

These paintings were also declared a World Heritage site in 1986 by UNESCO, dating in the 13th century.

 

San Martín and Salvador Towers

The San Martin Tower was built between 1315 and 1316 in Mudéjar style, being very similar to tower’s Salvador in its construction and decoration with rajolas (bricks ) and green and white glazed ceramic tiles in its facades. Actually, it is one of the most beautiful tower of the Mudéjar aragones art.

tower teruel 1The Mudéjar Salvador tower, which is said that is the twins of San Martin Tower, was constructed in the 14th century with rajolas (bricks) and green and white glazed ceramic tiles in its fine decoration.

In addition, if visitors watch one tower when the rays of sun cover its facades, they can understand why the tower seems as if it is moving while the bright sunlight changes the colourway and the shadows of its decoration. It is said that the towers Mudéjares should be stared in different days to be able to enjoy its artwork.

Teruel is between Zaragoza ( 173 km.), Valencia( 140 km. ), Madrid (300 km. ) and Barcelona (409 km.). Teruel has about 36000 inhabitants. It takes about one day to visit this city on foot.

 

More places to visit near Teruel

– Plaza del Torico: The Torico square is the most famous landmark of Teruel. The city is not only popular with the tourists because its restaurants and surroundings but also its festivals, its typical porches, the beautiful buildings, its architecture, its museums, its gastronomy and so on.

– Aragón: Read here more about this region, placed in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula and in the south of France.

Plaza del Torico / Torico Square (Teruel)

Celebrations, Streets and monuments, Teruel

torico square

Teruel is a small aragonese city of 36.000 inhabitants. It is between Zaragoza (173 km.) and Valencia (173 km.).

The Torico Square of Teruel (Plaza Carlos Castel, popularly known as “Plaza del Torico”), is the most important meeting point of the citizens in Teruel, and it is so called because of its history and customs. In fact, the King Alfonso II de Aragon and Earl of Barcelona, “El trovador” ( 1157-1196) founded Teruel in this point in 1170, since a black bull with a fire torch on his head appeared in this place after conquering the site. In this lively square there is a drinking water round fountain built in 1858, and in the middle of the fountain there is one high column with a tiny black statue of a bull on its top. This lovely square with an outstanding design is the icon of local people.

Being the heart of Teruel, the Torico square is ideally situated at the crossroad of seven traditional streets which go to the main places of the city. The Torico Square and its statue are the most famous landmarks of Teruel. It is not only popular with the tourists because its restaurants and surroundings but also its festivals, its typical porches, the beautiful buildings, its architecture, its museums, its gastronomy and so on.

It takes about one day to visit Teruel on foot. Visitors interested in culture should not miss the four mudejar towers, they were declared a World Heritage site in 1986 by UNESCO. Also, don’t forget the spellbinding unique Territorio Dinópolis.

 

 

Teruel celebrations: “The Angel Festival”

Most tourists to Teruel want to enjoy the “The Angel Festival” (or “Fiestas del Angel / Fiestas de las Vaquillas”) on 5th of July. During a week the Torico square comes alive with thousands of people who wear the traditional red cachirulo (a red neckerchief). They can run around the bulls, dance all the night, listen to the live music, drink regional wine, taste the delightful ham of Teruel in the Torico square and in the area. By the way, they can also see the citizens climbing the column and put a small red cachirulo to bull statue, watch fire bull (toro de fuego) (a bull with a fire torch on his head) running through the streets of Teruel.

 

Another interesting festival in Teruel: The Weddings of Isabel de Segura

People interested in medieval Festivals must not miss the Weddings of Isabel de Segura festival which is performed in the streets of Teruel by local people who wear medieval clothes style. Furthermore, the character of Isabel really comes alive during the representation of the Lovers of Teruel, and markets, taverns and all sorts of performs go back to 13th century.

In fact, Teruel becomes a medieval city where tourists and citizens can enjoy it together in February every year.

 

More places to visit near Teruel

– Mudejar Towers of Teruel: Teruel attracts visitors from all over the world in order to see its beautiful Mudéjar Towers of Santa Maria, San Pedro and Salvador and San Martín , which were declared World of Heritage sites in 1986 by UNESCO.

– Aragón: Read here more about this region, placed in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula and in the south of France. Read also our post about the Top cities and monuments of Spain