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 17^th 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.