Santa María de Mediavilla Cathedral

The cathedral holds a key to understanding Teruel: its painted roof from the late thirteenth century combines timber construction, geometric ornament and figures from medieval society. It is more than a covering overhead, inviting you to recognise people and activities within a composition extending above the nave. Begin with its overall form and the rhythm of its beams, then seek one particular scene. Moving between these scales prevents rich decoration from becoming an indistinct patch in the distance. Outside, examine the tower too and compare its materials with the other towers on your route. Plan the interior as a separate visit, checking which spaces your chosen admission includes. Appreciating the roof requires time and a comfortable viewpoint; it is not a detail to hurry past on the way elsewhere.