The famous ‘diablesa’ of Easter in Orihuela

The Holy Week of Easter in Orihuela is one of the most popular in Spain. In fact, it was declared to be of International Tourist Interest. The Easter processions in Orihuela begin with the Friday of Sorrows or Friday of Passion and continue every day until Easter Sunday or Palm Sunday.

Unmissable visits in Orihuela

Orihuela is a brilliant destination to enjoy a magnificent Easter holiday. It has attractive landscapes, two marinas and small cliffs suitable for diving and fishing. The sun and the sea are two points in its favour, as are its most characteristic and emblematic buildings and its traditional festivals, which include Easter and the parades of Moors and Christians.

The Cathedral of Salvador has its origins in the sixteenth century and is one of the main things to see in Orihuela. It has a Gothic style with a Latin cross floorplan and several Gothic and Renaissance access doors (Cadenas, Loreto and Anunciación). It is worth mentioning the Museum of Sacred Art that in the cathedral, where works of art as important as The Temptation of St. Thomas (by the artist Velázquez) are kept.

The Convent of Santo Domingo was the former residence of the Dominicans. It then went on to be a university until it was closed off in the 19th century. Its Baroque style, the genuine decoration of its covers and its spectacular façade make it a building of great interest.

The most notable processions in Orihuela

"La Diablesa", the female devil, is a well-known sculpture in that it’s the only demon which takes part in Easter celebrations. It is a diabolical figure that goes out in procession in the station of the cross called "The triumph of the Cross" or "Cross of the Labradors". Its sculptor was Fray Nicolás de Bussy and it is believed that it went out in procession for the first time in the 17th century. Its characteristics are very peculiar (a man's head and a woman's breasts) and the citizens of Orihuela can see her being carried through its streets every Holy Saturday.

One of the greatest Easter processions is celebrated on Good Friday. Here thousands of dressed-up nazarenos belonging to 10 different brotherhoods participate in carrying the parade floats, with several Roman centuria and more than a thousand musicians.
The procession of the Silence is celebrated on Maundy Thursday and, while the parade is taking place in the streets of Orihuela, all the lights of the city stay off. It begins right after the performance of the Singers of the Passion and it starts at the Church of Santiago el Mayor.