These intricately carved tombs embody the legendary Spanish rendition of “Romeo and Juliet”.
These tombs were crafted following the discovery of two mummified bodies in the 16th century, believed to be those of the legendary “Lovers of Teruel”.
Dome of the Church of the Lovers of Teruel (Church of Saint Peter).
According to the tale, in the early 13th century, Isabel’s father intervened to prevent the marriage of two young nobles, Diego Martínez Marcilla and Isabel Segura. Isabel’s affluent father sought to wed her into the Marcilla family due to the financial hardships faced by Diego’s father.
Isabel managed to negotiate a five-year delay in her marriage to another suitor. During this period, Diego was obliged to leave the city and establish a fortress elsewhere. Isabel’s father agreed, and the five years would pass according to Diego’s promise.
When Diego finally returned to the town three years later, he was dismayed to learn that Isabel’s father had hurried her into marriage the day before his arrival. Diego realized he was one day too late, as he had counted the day of their agreement as part of the five-year limit.
That fateful night, when Diego ascended to Isabel’s chamber, she, out of loyalty to her new husband sleeping beside her, began to kiss him. Heartbroken, Diego collapsed at her feet and passed away. Distraught, Isabel then took her own life with Diego’s sword.
The mummies concealed within the Church of Saint Peter in Teruel, along with period photographs.
Local lore, perpetuated by those familiar with the tale of the ill-fated lovers, insisted that they were buried side by side. The unearthing of two mummified bodies in the 16th century only served to further stoke the fires of the legend.
The Tomb
Even in light of contemporary evidence suggesting that these two bodies may indeed be those of the legendary lovers, visitors continue to flock to the cemetery where their remains rest. The two tombs, crafted by Juan de Ávalos, depict the couple as they near the end of their earthly journey.
