Savor Spain

Many people knows about Sanfermines in Pamplona, but not everyone knows that in about 3.5 hours driving, in Teruel (Aragón) they´re celebrating another national festivity with music, drinks, lots of people and bulls running over the streets of the city. This is “La Vaquilla del Ángel” or how the people says “Fiestas de El Torico“

Named after the patron of Teruel and the Police department and with a medieval origin from XIV century. It was in the 70´s when they started to celebrate “officially” and which is celebrated the weekend closest to the 10th of July.

Most famous act will be to put the typical red and black headscarf, or cachirulo, to “El Torico“, a monument-fountain placed at Plaza del Torico in 1855 and recently renewed, that shows a little bull made of cast iron and that represents the legend of the origin of the city: wanting to settle a city, King Alfonso II ordered to release and follow a bull. The bull walked around until a place where he stopped just below a star, and that place seems to be the actual Plaza del Torico and center of the city of Teruel. The bull and the star is part of the current official flag.

There will be another important moment of the celebration and it´s the running with the bull tied from the horns by the “sogueros“, dedicated to control the bull while managing the ropes, like cowboys on foot.

At around 6 am they´ll tied the bull to control him and they run all the way until the “Arcos“, city´s Aqueduct, to keep the bull for next day. A route of 1.2 km approx.

And, of course, let´s not forget the food. Don´t miss the Jamón de Teruel D.O, the “Madejas“, “Regañaos” or the “Suspiros de Amante” in honor to their own real version of Romeo & Julieta: Los Amantes de Teruel.

Music, dj´s, “peñas“, “charangas“, lots of people, food, drinks … what are you waiting for? Teruel existe.