Teruel

The place, once inhabited by Celtiberians, was taken by the Romans. In the 8th century, the Arab-Moorish armies advanced into the area and gave it the name Tirwal. In 1171, the Aragonese king Alfonso II conquered Tirwal with the intention of strengthening his kingdom's southern border after the Almohads captured the city of Valencia. He “founded” Teruel and empowered him to facilitate the repopulation of the region.

After the inhabitants took part in the conquest of Valencia, Teruel was granted the title of city in 1347 by Pedro IV of Aragon. In the Middle Ages, the Jewish and Mudejar communities gained significant importance in the city's social and economic life.

During the Spanish Civil War, the city changed hands several times and was virtually destroyed. The German Junkers Ju-87 dive bombers were used for the first time in the Battle of Teruel. After the final conquest by Franco's troops, the infamous Condor Legion also briefly used the airfield. It is estimated, that the two sides suffered up to 140,000 casualties between them in the three-month battle.

Today Teruel is a thriving town with a population of about 36.000.