Orihuela

About

Settled by the Romans, after the fall of their empire it became a Visigoth capital before claiming independence and forming its own tiny kingdom. The city maintained its important regional status through much of its history, leaving five National Monuments in its historic town center. The 13th century cathedral was originally a humble parish church, built on the site of a former mosque, before being expanded and aggrandized to suit the city’s status. Today it offers an interesting dichotomy, with rich embellishments made to its humble Romanesque base. Next door, in the former episcopal palace is the Sacred Art Museum, which features impressive works by the likes of Velazquez and de Bussy. The city also has a regional museum, the pride of which is a unique devil statue that the city uses during its Easter parade.