Teruel - Catedral de 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.
The “Catedral de Santa María de Mediavilla de Teruel” is one of only two cathedrals in Spain that were built in the Mudejar style.

Construction of “Santa María de Mediavilla” originally began in 1171 in the Romanesque style. Construction was completed in 1257 after the Mudejar tower was erected. Renovations and expansions were carried out in the same century. The builder Juzaff restructured the Romanesque building in the Mudejar style, which enhanced the Romanesque structure.

In the same Gothic-Mudejar style, the Romanesque apses were replaced by others as early as the 14th century. The walls were also raised. In 1423, the Aragonese (Anti)Pope Benedict XIII elevated it to the status of a collegiate church.