This charming Aragonese town is home to a medieval legend of two tragic star-crossed lovers whose love story has been retold for centuries and who remain united even in death. It is said that the two young lovers, Diego and Isabel, both hailed from wealthy families and were childhood friends but by the time the pair were of age to marry, Diego’s family had fallen on hard times. It was agreed Diego must leave Teruel and make his fortune in the Crusades and after five years he would return to marry Isabel. Five-years-to-the-day and, with no news from Diego, Isabel was forced to marry a nobleman from a neighbouring town but, that very same evening, Diego returned with his riches restored. Upon learning of Isabel’s marriage Diego died of a broken heart, his funeral was held the next day and Isabel attended, wearing her wedding dress, to place one last kiss on her dear, departed lover. As she did so, Isabel collapsed, dead in the arms of her true love. The pair were buried in the local church and, over the years, visitors from across the country have visited Teruel to pay tribute to the pair. Today you can visit the tombs, upon which lie two marble figures, joined in hand, for eternity.
The love story has been passed down by many generations and immortalised in literature, film and opera. Thanks to this tragic love story, Teruel is one of Europe’s ‘Europe in love’ network, a selection of cities across the continent attached to famous love stories.