Eldership Spain 2025 - Orihuela Part Two - Nothing But Churches

By the time we got to our fourth church during our day in Orihuela, even the fanatical church visiting de-I and Wife had had enough. Nonetheless, there were so many pictures from said churches, even after ruthlessly sending half of them to the deletion ether, that I was forced to break them apart as their own post. 

All of the churches had their origins in the late Middle Ages. A number of them were renovated again and again over time causing a mish mosh architectural styles. I chose to not do a deep dive into the history of the churches. Instead, I'm going to present the photos according to their common features.

 Exteriors

 

 NOT blue tile!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interiors - Overall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mystery of the Arches

I am sure you all remember your lessons in Gothic Architecture of the development of the groin vault that gives the domes designed in that period their height, shape and distinctive look. I always look up at the domes and ceilings as I find them often inspiring. But the ones in Orihuela were different. Something despite all the churches I've visited, I'd never seen before.

 

 

 

There were these round button like things at the joint intersections. What were they? Did they have some kind of significance?

It turns out they are called Vault Bosses and serve as both an architectural and decorative purpose. They add strength at each vault joint. But they are frequently designs, and in the Middle Ages coats of arms and similar heraldic designs. Basically, it was advertising who was putting the money up for church! Think of stadium naming rights.

 

Statues

 

 

 Stained Glass

 

 

 

 Even Churches can have organ envy

 

 Really? Now THIS is an organ!

 

Artwork Detail

Those who follow know de-I likes to look at the detail of artwork to pick up on small things that might reflect on those who created the work.  

None main characters from a large painting

 

A decidedly more modern style and interpretation

 

 Wife said this looked like Jesus was in a skirt!

 

 The classic pose for the vast majority of religious depictions of the holy family and saints is for them to looking at some point away from the person viewing the painting, as if they are in contemplation. This was from a whole row saint pictures in the main part of the church and was decidedly Not looking away from you. Why did the artist decide to do that?

 

  Other non-typical looks

 

 

 Then in the cathedral was extensive wrought iron work with intricate depictions. When viewed from the front they gave one impression. Viewed from the back, the impression was different. Was this on purpose?

 

Front

 

 

Front

 

Back

 

 

  

Eldership 2025 Spain - Day Trip To Orihuela Part One - Everything Not Church

Another day of exploration in the Province of Alicante, of the Valencia Community. Today we are visiting the town of Orihuela. As with many places in Spain, there is a municipality and a city. The municipality is like a county and will contain a number of towns. The city is just what it says. So there is the city of Madrid and Municipality of Madrid

I've done my usual after the fact research on the town. For the longest time it was at a very critical juncture of communication and transport which led to numerous powers wanting to control it. (And trust me, there were lots and lots over the centuries).

The local people throughout the centuries have had the unenviable history of almost ALWAYS aligning with the losing sides of these power struggles. Yet, despite that the town always seemed to bounce back. The losing streak took its toll, however, starting at the end of the 18th century. Through the last third of the 20th century, it was a steady decline. 

However, beginning in the 1970's tourism and expatism drove the economy to substantial improvement. In fact, now 32% of the total population consists of expats with the bulk of the concentrated in the Orihuela Costa (coast) versus Orihuela City.

Despite its historical travails, Orihuela had a lot to keep Wife and I in happy photo tourism land. It never stops amazing me how various places have variety in architecture, cityscape, and decoration that transcends their popularity, or their popular reputation. Orihuela was one of these. In fact, we took so many pictures that we have divided them into multiple posts, two in my case. Rather than go in chronological order of visiting, I've grouped these into subject categories.

Cityscape - What I view as the overall image of the city.

 

 

 

 

 Ruins of the Moorish Castle and City on the Hill

 

 Again the wooden door and window blinds

 

A very Modern clock tower

 

 Turn of the 19th/20th Century Architecture

 

A very different looking fountain with stairs leading to a building. I was able to find nothing about these.

 

 

 

 

Benches of Death

 

Back Story - Wife and I were tired and needed a place to rest until it was lunch opening time. We saw these in a park. They were covered in these small, dark, hard berry like things. We cleaned them off. Sat down. Immediately began being pelted by these same berries coming off the trees! We retreated.

Street Lamps - A Great Variety for a Small City

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birds (the Count Challenge)

 

 

 

 Miscellaneous

Rumor has gotten out of a potential Re-Reconquista raid by Swedish Vikings. Children are being taught to get to a shelter.

 

 Despite the Moors and Christians Festivals at first glance celebrating the Catholic reconquest of Spain from Islam, the dominate imagery and promotion is Moorish.

 

 This led to me doing research which I will share in a future post.

 Found near the Benches of Death, a Thermometer. A good idea. Would be better if it were working.

 

Lunch - Our Menu del Dia

As is our preference, we found a local place that was not tourist driven but not unfriendly to tourists and had a superior Menu del dia.

Vegetable Soup (squash or pumpkin based) with a soft egg

 

 Ensalada Murciana (Murcia style salad)

Tomatoes, tuna, hard boiled egg, olives, salt, pepper, good olive oil

 

 Braised beef with Fries

 

 Roast Chicken with Oven Roasted Potatoes

 

A bread pudding layered with flan (they love their flan here) 

 

Helados in a tub

 

 A nice white wine with a couple of grapes in it.

 

 And all this plus an extra coffee, was $32.

Lastly

SIGNS OF THE WORLD

Evidently de-I is not the only one to play loose with the micro size Spanish parking places.

 

When you have NOTHING else to do, find this sign!

 

Remember the three most important things in advertising - repetition, repetition, repetition