For four days in February, Teruel transforms into a 13th-century medieval city to revive the legend of the Lovers through the Weddings of Isabel de SeguraStreets, squares and corners of the historic center are filled with period costumes, open-air stages and encampments that recreate the atmosphere of eight centuries ago.
In this edition, The reenactment reaches its 30th anniversary and is now celebrated as a Festival of International Tourist InterestThis award recognizes the event's historical accuracy and, above all, the massive involvement of the public. The reenactment has established itself as one of Aragon's major cultural and tourist attractions and a benchmark for historical reenactments across Europe.
A recreation that takes Teruel back to the 13th century
Every February, the 19 to 22The city of Teruel steps back in time to become an authentic medieval town. The city relives the history of Isabel de Segura and Diego de Marcilla, the famous Lovers of Teruel, one of the best-known tragic love stories in Aragonese tradition.
Throughout these four days, More than 150 actors and hundreds of extras bring to life the main moments of the legend: Diego's farewell when he leaves to seek his fortune, Isabel's wedding to Pedro de Azagra, the lover's return after years of absence, the Request for the Kiss and the denouement marked by the death of both protagonists.
The show is not limited to a few specific venues: Around 150 recreation groups set up their tents and camps at the Historic Center, the Rondas and around the BullringOrganizing activities, street entertainment, and events open to the public. The entire city transforms into a vibrant stage, where music, theater, parades, and period everyday life coexist.
The president of Aragon, Jorge AzconHe often emphasizes that it's not just a local festival: The Weddings of Isabel de Segura have become one of the most important historical reenactments in Spain and throughout Europe., both because of the scale of the production and because of the citizen participation that has sustained it since its inception, back in 1997.
Thirty years of history and a Festival of International Tourist Interest
What began in 1997 as the initiative of a group of friends determined to stage the legend of the Lovers Three decades later, it has become an event that mobilizes the entire city of Teruel. Thousands of residents dress in period costumes, participate in the reenactments, and spread out across the city's various locations to recreate life in the 13th century.
In this special edition, 30 years of uninterrupted recreation, a milestone that coincides with the declaration, last December, of International party of touristic interestThis seal recognizes the impact of the Weddings of Isabel de Segura on Teruel's international profile and reinforces its appeal to national and European visitors.
The event has remained true to its essence: historical rigor, community participation, and a commitment to public access. The Isabel's Wedding Foundation It coordinates the main programming, while the Federation of reenactment groups provides an associative network that sustains the festival from the neighborhood, the clubs and the tents themselves, taking care of the details of costumes, setting and customs.
Over the years the program has expanded to the point that it now exceeds The hundred events include theatrical scenes, street performances, exhibitions and family-friendly activities. Added to this is a large Medieval Market with around 250 stalls, distributed throughout the Cathedral Square, the Glorieta, the Paseo del Óvalo, the Escalinata, the Parque de los Fueros and other areas of the urban center.
Program and key scenes of the Weddings of Isabel de Segura
The events surrounding the Weddings of Isabel de Segura are concentrated into four very intense days, from Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd Februarywith a continuous succession of events spread throughout the historic center. Each day features scenes from the legend and parallel activities for all ages.
El Thursday afternoon The reenactment officially begins with the opening of encampments and the first cultural events. At 6:30 p.m., a children's storytelling session begins in the Cathedral Square, and later that evening, the play is performed. "The uninhabited women" before the Procession of the Souls, which runs through the center and marks the solemn start of the festival.
El viernes 20 Isabel's wedding takes center stage. The market and encampments have been open since 10:00 AM, with music and entertainment from various groups. The procession departs at 11:45 AM. wedding procession from La Andaquilla to the Cathedral, where it is performed at 12:00 noon. Wedding of Isabel de Segura with Don Pedro de Azagra in the heart of the Cathedral Square. After the ceremony, the public attends the official proclamation from the City Hall balcony and several short theatrical performances in the square.
Friday afternoon sees much of the performing arts activity concentrated in the Cathedral Square and the city center, with performances such as "Revolt in the Square", "The Rogues", "Battle of wits between friars and nuns" o "Benefactor Wanted"among others. One of the most striking moments is the reception for King James I of Aragon in the Parque de los Fueros, followed by a parade to the Plaza del Torico, where the vassalage of the inhabitants of the town is reenacted and, at night, the fire show "The Farralis Ritual".
El Saturday 21 It is probably the busiest day. From early morning, the encampments and the market reopen, while parades, musicians, and street entertainment fill the historic center. In the afternoon, the Wedding Bull in the Tozal and the Plaza del Torico and the King's Tournament at the Bullring, two highly anticipated events for both locals and visitors.
The central part of the legend begins at 7:00 p.m. Troop concentration at the Daroca Gate, entry of the Aragonese forces and arrival of Diego de MarcillaThe young man's meeting with his parents in the Cathedral Square and, finally, in the Plaza del Torico, the The Request for the Kiss, Diego's Death, and Isabel's LamentThe night continues with another Procession of Souls and a torchlight parade for charity, culminating in the Gardens of the Staircase with the funeral rite known as "The Captain's Candle".
El Sunday 22 It is marked by the funeral rites that bring the story to a close. Around mid-morning, the funeral procession of Diego de Marcillawhich travels through various streets until reaching the Cathedral Square. There, "Gossip about the deceased" and Diego's funeral are reenacted, followed by the death of IsabelThe final touch is added in the Plaza del Seminario with the Romance of the Blind Man, the Ode to the Lovers, the invitation to a kiss in honor of the protagonists and the final number "The Heartbeats of the Lovers", which closes a particularly symbolic edition.
A city turned upside down: citizen participation and a medieval atmosphere
If anything distinguishes the Weddings of Isabel de Segura from other reenactments, it is the massive involvement of the local populationEvery year, thousands of people from Teruel prepare their costumes, take care of the ambiance of their tents, and coordinate with friends, coworkers, and families to live for four days as if it were the 13th century.
The result is that the entire city functions as a large choral stageLocals playing the roles of merchants, soldiers, clergy, nobles, or peasants; traditional music groups enlivening squares and hidden corners; reenactors organizing battles and weapons demonstrations; artisans offering workshops and tastings of local products. All of this complements the Foundation's official program and the events organized by the Federation of groups.
Alongside the main scenes, Daily life in the Middle Ages is recreated in the encampments scattered throughout the Historic Center, the Rondas and the area around the Bullring.It is common to find demonstrations of trades, children's activities, small impromptu performances and corners where you can rest and enjoy the local gastronomy in a totally themed environment.
The sum of these elements has transformed the Weddings of Isabel de Segura into one of the great cultural and tourist events of AragonEvery year, thousands of visitors come to Teruel attracted by the legend of the Lovers and by the possibility of living an immersive experience in the middle of winter, where the city is completely transformed.
The weather in Teruel during the Weddings: cold nights and sunny days
Since it takes place in the middle of February, The weather always plays an important role in the wedding experience.It is common for the early mornings to be cold, with minimum temperatures that can drop below 0 degrees, while during the day, if the sun shines, temperatures rise considerably and require removing layers of clothing.
Forecasts for this time of year point to a wide temperature range, with daytime values ​​that can range around 20-22 degree and minimums around -1 or 1 degreeFor the public and participants, this translates into the need to dress warmly during the evening and early morning hours, especially at events such as processions or torchlight parades.
Regarding cloud cover, days with Partly cloudy or clear skies with no significant rainfallThis facilitates the staging of the outdoor scenes. For Thursday evening, when "The Uninhabited Women" is performed and the first Procession of Souls takes place, cold but stable weather is expected, with no precipitation.
Friday and Saturday, key moments for Isabel's wedding to Pedro de Azagra and the arrival of Diego de Marcilla, The weather situation is expected to remain the same.Cool mornings, mild middays, and cold nights, with predominantly clear skies. On Sunday, during the funerals and the unfolding of the legend, the pattern of wide temperature variations and dry conditions would continue.
External promotion and tourism projection of Teruel
The leap of the Weddings of Isabel de Segura to the category of International party of touristic interest This has been accompanied by an additional promotional effort. Teruel City Council and the Government of Aragon They have opted to publicize this event outside the community, with specific campaigns in large cities.
One of the most striking actions has been the Promotion on Madrid's Gran VÃawhere the image of the reenactment has been used to position Teruel as "City of Love"The legend of the Lovers is thus presented as a unique tourist attraction, capable of competing with other European destinations that also exploit romantic and medieval stories.
In addition to outdoor advertising, The Aragonese media have strengthened their coverageNetworks such as Aragón TV and Aragón Radio are announcing special broadcasts of the main scenes—including the deaths of Diego and Isabel—as well as live programs from the city itself. The constant presence in print, radio, television, and digital media helps keep the image of the Wedding alive throughout the year.
This outreach work adds to the work of the Isabel Wedding FoundationThe organization not only coordinates the events but also promotes educational content about the history of Teruel, Mudéjar architecture, and the historical context of the legend. The goal is for visitors to the city not only to enjoy the festival but also to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural heritage that underpins it.
A complete experience for locals and visitors
Over time, the Weddings of Isabel de Segura have gone from being a simple representation of the legend to becoming a global experience that blends theater, music, gastronomy, tourism and historical memoryThose who visit Teruel during these days not only see scenes, but also stroll through a transformed old town, sample local products in a themed market and continually encounter characters dressed as in the 13th century.
The party offers Activities for all audiencesFrom storytelling and workshops for the little ones, to tournaments and combat demonstrations for historical reenactment enthusiasts, as well as concerts, street entertainment, and traditional music performances. Many visitors also take the opportunity to discover the city's Mudéjar heritage and other tourist attractions in the province.
All of this revolves around the same story: the story of two lovers whose impossible love has shaped the identity of Teruel for centuriesThe reenactment, far from remaining a simple romantic tale, has established itself as a cultural and economic engine that mobilizes the entire city and projects it both in Spain and in the rest of Europe.
The result of this combination of history, community involvement, and tourism promotion is an event that many are already marking in red on their calendars: Four days in which Teruel becomes a medieval town, capital of tragic love and a great open-air stage, confirming why the Weddings of Isabel de Segura have earned a prominent place among the great historical celebrations of the continent.
