Abstract: The present invention relates to a covering that selectively absorbs visible and infrared radiation, which comprises: (a) a first anti-diffusion barrier layer (2); (b) an IR-reflecting metallic layer (3) made from at least one metallic element selected from a group comprising An, Ag, Al, Cu, Ti and Pt; (c) at least a second anti-diffusion barrier layer (4) formed by oxidation of the layer (3); (d) a structure that absorbs in the UV-VIS range, which comprises at least a first film (5) and a second film (6) made from cermet, which in turn comprises a metallic fraction made from a metal selected from Pt, Cr, Mo, W, Zr, Nb, Ta and Pd, or any alloy thereof, and a ceramic comprising an oxygen-free nitride which is constituted by a metallic oxide in which the metal is selected from aluminium, silicon and chromium; and (e) a dielectric layer that is non-reflecting in the UV-VIS range, which comprises a nitride of at least one metal selected from silicon, aluminium and chromium.