Los Amantes sculpture on the Escalinata Staircase in Teruel (background adapted).
Early in the 13th century, in the ancient city of Teruel, Spain, lived two young souls bound by an intense and forbidden love: Diego de Marcilla and Isabel de Segura. Though they shared a deep affection, fate wove a tapestry of obstacles that kept them apart.
Diego came from a noble but impoverished family, while Isabel was the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Her father demanded a suitor of means, dismissing Diego's love as folly. Desperate to prove his worth, Diego pleaded for five years to seek fortune and return a wealthy man. Isabel’s father reluctantly agreed, though doubt lingered in his heart.
Diego rode off to fight in distant lands, his heart fueled by love and ambition. He faced countless perils, gaining fame, gold, and honor. Meanwhile, Isabel endured lonely days, her hope dimming with each passing year. On the last day of the promised five years, Diego had not yet returned.
Believing him dead, Isabel's father arranged her marriage to a wealthy nobleman. On the evening of the wedding, a weary and battle-scarred Diego arrived in Teruel, his heart pounding with anticipation. But joy turned to despair when he learned of Isabel’s marriage.
Consumed by grief, Diego went into Isabel’s chamber that night. Trembling with emotion, he begged for one final kiss to ease his tormented soul. Bound by her vows, Isabel refused, though tears streamed down her face. Heartbroken, Diego collapsed at her feet and died.
The next day, the city buzzed with the shocking news of Diego's death. Overwhelmed by guilt and sorrow, Isabel insisted on attending his funeral. As she approached Diego's body, she bent down and tenderly kissed his cold lips. Her broken heart could endure no more—she fell dead beside him.
Moved by such a tragic display of love, the people of Teruel buried the lovers side by side. To this day, their shared tomb in the Church of San Pedro stands as a timeless monument to enduring love, proving that even in death, true hearts remain forever united.
King Ferdinand VII visiting the mummies of the Lovers of Teruel, April 1814.
