Teruel

Teruel is the capital city of Teruel province in Aragon. It is noted for its harsh climate, its jamón serrano (cured ham), its pottery, its surrounding archaeological sites, rock outcrops containing some of the oldest dinosaur remains of the Iberian Peninsula, and its famous events. Teruel is regarded as the "town of mudéjar" (Moorish-influenced architecture) due to numerous buildings designed in this style. All of them are comprised in the Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon which is a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

Understand
In 2018, it had a population of about 36,000 people.

Teruel's remote and mountainous location 915 metres (3,002 feet) above sea level and its low population has led to relative isolation within Spain. A campaign group with the slogan Teruel existe ("Teruel exists") was founded in 1999 to press for greater recognition and investment in the town and the province. Due in part to the campaign, transport connections to Teruel are being greatly improved with the construction of a motorway between Zaragoza and Sagunto, large parts of which are now open. However, Teruel remains the only provincial capital in peninsular Spain without a direct railway link to the capital, Madrid.

Climate
Summer temperatures are warm to hot, although there is much daily variation, and winters are cool, with low minimum temperatures sometimes dropping to −10 °C (14.0 °F). The lowest amount of rainfall is in winter and the greatest falls at the end of spring and autumn.

Get in
Teruel is actually closer to Valencia than Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon, and Valencia Airport offers more connections that the one in Zaragoza.

Get around
The city centre is very compact, requiring no car. To go further afield, e.g. to Dinópolis (listed below under 'See'), you may want to consider using the town's only taxi service, Taxi Teruel (tel. +34 978 102 040).

Mudéjar architecture
Teruel is the site of some of the most impressive Mudéjar architecture in all Spain, which, with other Mudéjar structures in Aragón, are collectively inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.



Other sights

 * The Mausoleum of The Lovers of Teruel (Los Amantes) is just off the main square.
 * The Mausoleum of The Lovers of Teruel (Los Amantes) is just off the main square.
 * The Mausoleum of The Lovers of Teruel (Los Amantes) is just off the main square.
 * The Mausoleum of The Lovers of Teruel (Los Amantes) is just off the main square.
 * The Mausoleum of The Lovers of Teruel (Los Amantes) is just off the main square.
 * The Mausoleum of The Lovers of Teruel (Los Amantes) is just off the main square.
 * The Mausoleum of The Lovers of Teruel (Los Amantes) is just off the main square.

Do

 * La Vaquilla del Ángel during the weekend (Friday to Monday) closest to 10 July. 20 cultural associations program and stage more than a hundred musical events during the four days, all of them free of charge and with open access, with first-rate artists of very different styles. There's an odd tradition of throwing meringue at the town hall's door.
 * Bodas de Isabel de Segura around the third weekend of February.
 * At Easter the parades of drummers in full Easter garb are well worth a look.

Buy
Teruel jamon serrano, you can purchase it in some deli shops in the city center. It's awesome.

Do not purchase any "typical bakery", as it may not be made on the premises.

Eat
The best places are 'asadores' and 'rokelin' (there are several ones), anything else is fancy expensive food, you'll be hungry after eating in those places.

Drink
There isn't a typical drink, but you can find microbrews in some bakeries.

Some pubs in the party zone (called simply "la zona") are truly troll nests, don't go there.