Di Luna is in love with the Lady Leonora, but she in turn is regularly serenaded by a mystery troubadour (Manrico). Walking through the gardens late at night Leonora rushes into the arms of the Count, mistakenly thinking he is Manrico. The troubadour arrives and thinks Leonora unfaithful. She declares her love for him, and not for the first time, the two men fight a duel. Manrico is about to kill the Count, but a mysterious force stays his hand.

An old gypsy women, Azucena - thought to be Manrico’s mother - recalls the burning of her mother as a witch, and how to avenge her death, she stole the Count's son then in total panic, threw her own baby into the fire. Manrico, recovering from injuries sustained in another battle, asks whether he is really her son. Emerging from her delirium, Azucena reassures him.

Believing Manrico to have been killed in battle, Leonora prepares to enter a convent. Di Luna, determined to marry Leonora, arrives with his men and prepares to take her by force. Forewarned, Manrico and his supporters intervene, and overpower the Count’s soldiers.

Azucena comes down from the mountains to find her son. She is captured by di Luna's forces and recognised. Manrico's marriage to Leonora is interrupted by news of his mother's imprisonment and he sets off to free her. This time, Manrico fails and is captured by the Count. Leonora plans to save Manrico by giving herself to di Luna. At this point, she takes poison. Her bargain with the Count is that he should allow her to tell Manrico of his freedom.

In their dungeon, Azucena and Manrico dream of their previous happiness in the mountains. Leonora arrives to tell Manrico that she has gained his freedom, but as he accuses her of betrayal, she falters, and he realises the sacrifice she has made for him. The Count arrives and realises he has been deceived.

The denouement is swift and shocking...and as Azucena had always promised, her mother’s death had been avenged.