Teruel can boast of beautiful cities. This province of Aragon is steeped in history, with villages that offer an authentic journey through time as you walk through its streets. It’s been two decades since we first heard that “Teruel exists” with an ever-present tourist campaign.
The majority of the municipalities we offer here can be visited in a single day, so if you are traveling to the province of Teruel, do not hesitate to stop in several municipalities. Whether it’s a weekend away or you want to take full advantage of Teruel, there is a wide range of towns to enjoy all year round.
Albarracin
If you have already traveled through the towns of Teruel, you will have noticed that Albarracín is one of the favorites. This is not surprising since this town of barely a thousand inhabitants is a real window into the past. And Albarracín can boast of the conservation of its cultural heritage. The town is surrounded by walls dating from the 14th century, a whole orange band that can be seen on the horizon.
Once you have visited the walls, you can start your tourist route in Albarracín with the Plaza Mayor, the heart of the city. It houses its town hall, with houses which were modified in the 19th century so that its inhabitants could enjoy the cultural shows of the town. Below is the so-called Portal de Molina, an arch that frames a curious house founded on a fork.
Don’t leave Albarracín without visiting its cathedral, characterized by the colorful roof that adorns its bell tower. The greens, blues and yellows will be etched on your retina as you admire the exterior of this religious building. The interior also stands out for its technical perfection, visible thanks to the bare walls of the building. Due to its simplicity, it is a very unusual example of Baroque architecture, far from the meaningless horror which characterizes the era.
Cantavieja
One of the most beautiful cities in the world, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), could not be missing from this list. This is Cantavieja, with a population of around 700 inhabitants. This city is ideal to visit with the arrival of cold temperatures, as the climate pairs perfectly with its beautiful landscape.
It is an ideal town for hiking, with very friendly routes due to their low difficulty. Most of them visit the town of Cantavieja and its surroundings:
- Cantavieja River: if, on the contrary, you are looking for a walk in contact with nature, take the Mirambel road and, on leaving the town, take a path on the left. This part of the path cannot be lost, as it is marked with white and red marks. Follow this route for two kilometers until you reach the Cantavieja River. Another path, this time marked in white and yellow, will take you to a road that will take you back to Cantavieja.
- Rebollar Recreational Area: The beginning of the route, known as PR-TE 69, begins next to the Ermita del Loreto, on a paved track. The asphalt will abandon us for the earth, giving birth to a path between stone walls. This path goes down to the old road. It crosses the ravine on an old bridge and joins the A-226 road. Then a paved path begins that goes up to the “El Rebollar” picnic area.
- Walk under the walls: the visit begins from Plaza España, one of the nerve centers of the city. Go towards Calle Loreto and turn left. You will see a maze of stones leading down the street. Eventually you will leave the commune, if you continue the path you will reach stairs that will take you back to the commune, thus reaching the fortified part.
Inside the city, it is worth visiting the Church of La Asunción. It is a religious building with a special history. At the beginning of the 17th century, the old medieval church that stood in this area was destroyed to build another one. The tower and the side door are preserved, integrated into the current building and transformed into the main entrance. The baroque temple was built between 1730 and 1745, according to a project by Antonio Nadal. Everything was destroyed during the civil war and the Church of the Assumption had to be rebuilt, although with a plan very far from the original baroque project. As you can see, visiting the Church of La Asunción is like standing in front of three buildings in one.
Calaceite
It is a town of hills and cobbled streets, which is distinguished by its beautiful ancestral houses. Buildings that belonged to the region’s political and noble elite, built in stone and decorated with wrought iron. This prosperous architecture is associated with the economic prosperity that the town experienced around the 18th century, when olive cultivation developed. Classified as an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1973, Calaceite stands out not only for its architecture, but also for its geographical position. And this municipality is considered the gateway to Catalonia from Aragon.
The city has its center in the Plaza Mayor, core of the three main roads that connect the municipality. Don’t leave Calaceite without visiting its many portal-chapels. It is a curious infrastructure, where religious chapels were built on the arches which served as passages inside the city. There are three in total: the Virgen del Pilar, San Antonio and the missing Virgen del Rosario.
