Teruel

Teruel, town, capital of Teruel provincia (province), in the comunidad autónoma (autonomous community) of Aragon, northeastern Spain. Located at the confluence of the Guadalaviar and Alfambra rivers, northwest of Valencia, it originated as the Iberian settlement of Turba, which was destroyed by the Romans in retaliation for the destruction of nearby coastal Saguntum by the Carthaginian general Hannibal. It became a Moorish stronghold after the 8th century. Large numbers of Moors remained in the city after its conquest by Alfonso II of Aragon in 1171; this resulted in the mixed, or Mudéjar, style in architecture still visible today. In the cloisters of the Gothic church of San Pedro were buried the celebrated “Lovers of Teruel,” Diego Juan Martínez de Marcilla and Isabel de Segura (13th century). Their story is the subject of works by Tirso de Molina (real name Gabriel Téllez), Juan Pérez de Montalbán, Juan Eugenio Hartzenbusch, and—in an Italian setting—by Giovanni Boccaccio. Structures from the 16th century include the cathedral (begun 1248 but altered 1596–1614) and an aqueduct built by Pierre Bedel. Although the economy is basically agricultural, there are textile, timber, and construction industries. Tourism is relatively important. Teruel is connected to Zaragoza and Valencia by highway and train. Pop. (2006 est.) 31,902.