These magnificently sculpted tombs represent the legendary Spanish version of “Romeo and Juliet.”
THIS PAIR OF TOMBS WAS created after two mummified bodies were discovered in the 16th century. It was believed that the mummies belonged to the legendary “Lovers of Teruel”.
Dome of the chapel of the Lovers of Teruel (Church of San Pedro de Teruel).
The story goes that Isabel’s father prevented two childhood sweethearts from the early 13th century, Diego Martínez Marcilla and Isabel Segura, from marrying once they came of age. Isabel’s wealthy father did not want her to marry into the Marcilla family because Diego’s father had fallen on hard times. 
Isabel was able to persuade her father to wait five years before marrying her to someone else. During these years, Diego had to leave the city and make his fortune elsewhere. Isabel’s father agreed and five years passed without a word from Diego.
The mummies found in the Church of San Pedro de Teruel, period photos.
When he was finally able to return to the town five years later, Diego was distraught to discover that Isabel’s father had forced her to marry the day before his arrival. Diego did not realize that he was a day late, as he had not considered the day the agreement was reached as part of the five-year limit.
That night, when Diego went up to Isabel’s bedroom, she refused to kiss him out of loyalty to her new husband, who was sleeping next to her. Heartbroken, Diego fell at her feet and died. Isabel was so heartbroken that she died at Diego’s funeral.
The people of Teruel who knew the story of the two childhood sweethearts insisted that they be buried together. The discovery of two mummies in the 16th century added further fuel to the legend.
Despite modern evidence that these two bodies could not be the two lovers, people still visit the ornate mausoleum that houses their supposed remains. The two tombs, designed by Juan de Ávalos, represent the couple embracing in death.
