In front of you is one of the four parishes founded by the Catholic Monarchs after they conquered Málaga in 1487. Pablo Picasso was baptised at its font on 10 November 1881. But its most famous story happens every spring.

1The legend of the prisoners

This is the canonical home of the brotherhood of Jesús El Rico. According to tradition, in the time of Charles III an epidemic swept Málaga and the procession could not be held. So the prisoners in the jail walked out, carried the statue through the streets and, when it was over, all went back to their cells without a single one missing. There is even another, rowdier version that speaks of a riot to bring out the Nazarene. Both are stories with no documentary proof.

2The privilege is real

What is on record is the privilege itself: since the reign of Charles III the brotherhood has freed one prisoner during its Holy Wednesday procession. Today the procedure is a modern one. The prison service puts forward well-behaved candidates, and the Council of Ministers approves a pardon the week before. The prisoner walks behind the Christ, which, thanks to a mechanism, raises its arm to give a blessing.

The statue carried in procession today is the work of the sculptor José Navas Parejo and dates from 1939.

3What to look for

  • The Mudéjar tower, in brick with a diamond-lattice decoration called sebka.
  • The original doorway, on the side, with glazed ceramic stars.
  • Calle Granada, a winding street that preserves the layout of the Islamic city.

Documented

The church was founded after the conquest of 1487, Picasso was baptised here in 1881 and the El Rico brotherhood has held the privilege of freeing a prisoner since the time of Charles III.

Oral tradition

The story of prisoners carrying the statue in procession during an epidemic and then returning to jail is tradition, not documented fact.

Sources and credits

Real Cofradía de Jesús El Rico (cofradiaelrico.com); Agrupación de Cofradías de Semana Santa de Málaga; Málaga City Council, Tourism Department (Church of Santiago).

Photos:

  • Façade of the Church of Santiago in Málaga with the cross of St James and the Mudéjar tower: alf.melin, CC BY-SA 2.0.

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