Teruel can boast of beautiful towns. This province of Aragon is full of history, with towns that provide an authentic journey through time when walking through its streets. It’s been two decades since we heard for the first time that ‘Teruel exists’ with a tourism campaign that is still present.
The majority of the towns that we propose here can be visited in a single day, so if you go to the province of Teruel, do not hesitate to stop by several municipalities. Whether for a weekend getaway or if you plan to enjoy Teruel thoroughly, there is a wide range of towns that you can enjoy throughout the year.
Albarracin
If you have already investigated the towns of Teruel you will have seen that Albarracín is among the favorites. It is no wonder, since this municipality of barely a thousand inhabitants is a true window to the past. And Albarracín can boast of the conservation of its cultural heritage. The municipality is surrounded by walls dating from the 14th century, an entire orange strip that can be seen on the horizon.
Once you have visited the walls, you can begin your tourist route within Albarracín through the Plaza Mayor, the heart of the town. It is home to its town hall, with homes that were modified in the 19th century so that its residents could enjoy the cultural shows of the municipality. Below is what is known as 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. 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, which can be seen thanks to the bareness of the building’s walls. Due to its simplicity, it is a very unusual example of baroque architecture, far from the the horror of the void that characterizes the era.
Cantavieja
One of the most beautiful towns in the world, according to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), could not be missing from this list. This is Cantavieja, with a population of about 700 inhabitants. This town is ideal to visit with the arrival of cold temperatures, since the climate perfectly matches its beautiful landscape.
It is an ideal town for hiking, with very friendly routes due to their low difficulty. Most of them tour the town of Cantavieja and its surroundings:
- Cantavieja River: if, on the other hand, you are looking for a walk that keeps you in contact with nature, take the Mirambel road and, at the exit of the town, walk along a path to the left. This part of the path cannot be lost, since it is marked with white and red marks. Walk along this route for two kilometers until you reach the Cantavieja River. Another path, this time marked with white and yellow markings, 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 rise to a path between stone walls. This path descends to the old road. It crosses the ravine over an old bridge and connects with the A-226 road. Next, a cobbled path begins that ascends to the ‘El Rebollar’ picnic area.
- Walk under the walls: the tour begins from Plaza España, one of the nerve centers of the town. Go towards Calle Loreto and turn left. You will see a stone maze leading down the street. Eventually you will leave the municipality, if you continue along the path you will reach some stairs that will take you back to the municipality, thus reaching the walled part.
Inside the town it is worth visiting the Church of Asunción. It is a religious building with a peculiar history. At the beginning of the 17th century, the old medieval church that was in this area was destroyed to build another one. The tower and the side doorway are preserved, integrated into the current building and converted 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 again, although with a plan that was far from the original baroque design. As you can see, visiting the Church of Asunción is like being in front of three buildings in one.
Calaceite
It is a town that is all hills and cobblestone streets, which stands out for its beautiful ancestral houses. Buildings that once belonged to the political and noble elite of the area, 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 was developed. Classified as an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1973, Calaceite not only stands out for its architecture, but also for its geographical position. And this municipality is considered the gateway to Catalonia from Aragon.
The town has its center in the Plaza Mayor, the nucleus of the three main roads that connect the municipality. Do not leave Calaceite without visiting its numerous portal-chapels. They are a curious infrastructure, where religious chapels were built on the arches that served as passageways within the town. There are a total of three: the Virgen del Pilar, San Antonio, and the missing Virgen del Rosario
Source: www.eldiario.es
