Teruel

Teruel rises on a high plateau near the meeting of the Guadalaviar and Alfambra. Founded under Alfonso II in 1171, it developed as a frontier town where Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities contributed to urban life. Its brick towers and the painted wooden ceiling of Santa María are among the finest expressions of Aragonese Mudéjar art. In 1347 Peter IV granted Teruel the title of city in recognition of its loyalty during the conflict with the Union of Aragon. The distinction brought privileges, later withdrawn and restored in 1366. Its churches and towers bear witness to the skills of craftsmen who worked across cultural traditions.