- Region
- Águilas
- Alhama de Murcia
- Jumilla
- Lorca
- Los Alcázares
- Mazarrón
- San Javier
-
ALL AREAS & TOWNS
- AREAS
- SOUTH WEST
- MAR MENOR
- MURCIA CITY & CENTRAL
- NORTH & NORTH WEST
- TOWNS
- Abanilla
- Abarán
- Aguilas
- Alamillo
- Alcantarilla
- Aledo
- Alhama de Murcia
- Archena
- Balsicas
- Blanca
- Bolnuevo
- Bullas
- Cañadas del Romero
- Cabo de Palos
- Calasparra
- Camping Bolnuevo
- Campo De Ricote
- Camposol
- Canada De La Lena
- Caravaca de la Cruz
- Cartagena
- Cehegin
- Ceuti
- Cieza
- Condado de Alhama
- Corvera
- Costa Cálida
- Cuevas De Almanzora
- Cuevas de Reyllo
- El Carmoli
- El Mojon
- El Molino (Puerto Lumbreras)
- El Pareton / Cantareros
- El Raso
- El Valle Golf Resort
- Fortuna
- Fuente Alamo
- Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
- Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
- Isla Plana
- Islas Menores & Mar de Cristal
- Jumilla
- La Azohia
- La Charca
- La Manga Club
- La Manga del Mar Menor
- La Pinilla
- La Puebla
- La Torre
- La Torre Golf Resort
- La Unión
- Las Palas
- Las Ramblas
- Las Ramblas Golf
- Las Torres de Cotillas
- Leiva
- Librilla
- Lo Pagan
- Lo Santiago
- Lorca
- Lorquí
- Los Alcázares
- Los Balcones
- Los Belones
- Los Canovas
- Los Nietos
- Los Perez (Tallante)
- Los Urrutias
- Los Ventorrillos
- Mar De Cristal
- Mar Menor
- Mar Menor Golf Resort
- Mazarrón
- Mazarrón Country Club
- Molina de Segura
- Moratalla
- Mula
- Murcia City
- Murcia Property
- Pareton
- Peraleja Golf Resort
- Perin
- Pilar de la Horadada
- Pinar de Campoverde
- Pinoso
- Playa Honda
- Playa Honda / Playa Paraíso
- Pliego
- Portmán
- Pozo Estrecho
- Puerto de Mazarrón
- Puerto Lumbreras
- Puntas De Calnegre
- Region of Murcia
- Ricote
- Roda Golf Resort
- Roldan
- Roldan and Lo Ferro
- San Javier
- San Pedro del Pinatar
- Santiago de la Ribera
- Sierra Espuña
- Sucina
- Tallante
- Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
- Torre Pacheco
- Totana
- What's On Weekly Bulletin
- Yecla
- EDITIONS: Spanish News Today Alicante Today Andalucia Today
The Caballero Cubierto, Plaza del Salvador, Orihuela
Sculpted by Pedro Jordán Almarza, this figure represents an important part of the Semana Santa celebrations in Orihuela
The statue of the “Caballero Cubierto” (the “covered gentleman”) which stands next to Orihuela Cathedral in the Plaza del Salvador is a reminder of one of the more curious aspects of Orihuela’s Easter Week processions.
On Easter Saturday the Procession of the “Santo Entierro de Cristo” takes place in the evening, in which the mayors of the outlying pedanías of the town participate, along with representatives of the agricultural areas of the municipality, and is led by a man wearing a top hat and tails, the "Caballero Cubierto. "
He is elected by the council each year and changes prior to Semana Santa, it being a tremendous honour to be chosen as the Caballero Cubierto.
This "covered man" carries the banner of the city, on which is embroidered the motto given to it by King Pedro IV of Aragón in the 14th century, "Semper Prevaluit ensis Vester" (Your blade always prevailed), and reflects Orihuela’s valiant defence during four sieges in the “War of the Two Pedros”, a war of succession between Pedro IV and Pedro I of Castile which lasted from 1356 to 1369.
On reaching the Cathedral, the procession splits into two, the person honoured to be the “Caballero Cubierto” leading the main body inside the Cathedral, and then out of the door on the opposite side of the building, and is the only participant not required to remove his hat, due to the special privilege contained in a papal bull granted in 1620 by Paul V.
The second part of the procession features the statue of “La Diablesa”, the she-devil, made by Nicolás de Bussy, which is normally on show in the city’s archaeological museum, and is a stunning 17th century masterpiece showing the triumph of good over evil, and the constant conflict of life and death, heaven and earth, God and Satan. To see the statue throughout the year visit the archaeological museum, which is just a few minutes' walk from the cathedral.
This statue is refused entry into the Cathedral as it represents the devil, albeit in this case taking the form of a she-devil and must wait outside before resuming its place in the parade at the far end of the Cathedral.
The statue of the Caballero Cubierto outside the cathedral is a recent addition to the square, dating from 2011 and was sculpted by Cartagena sculptor Pedro Jordán Almarza. It is made of bronze and is very close to the Capilla de Loreto, where Orihuela’s Easter Week traditions originated.
The plaza itself is paved with pebbles, creating a striking feature, a style of paving used frequently in the more historic towns and cities of Spain.