For many people, cemeteries are not the places to visit when they are traveling. However, those same people are missing out on some of the most beautiful displays of sculptures and architecture. Especially in Italy, where cemeteries are just as beautiful as the country’s most popular tourist sites. If you are someone who appreciates the artistry only found in cemeteries here are some of the places you should visit.
Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno
Located in Genoa, the cemetery was designed by architect Carlo Barabino. It was created after the 1835 cholera outbreak, when bodies were being moved from the overrun catacombs into burial plots and crypts in these newly established cemeteries. This beautiful location includes stunning garden paths as well as a reproduction of the Roman Pantheon.
Cimitero Monumentale di Milano
This cemetery is the second largest in the city. It is known as the resting place for some of the city’s wealthiest families, like the Brunis and Camparis. The cemetery also has a bronze replication of the Last Supper as well as a crypt known as the Temple of Fame; the burial place for some of Milan’s most famous.
Cimitero Acattolico per gli Stranieri
Known as Rome’s ‘non-Catholic’ cemetery, Acattolico is home to poets John Keats and Percy Shelley, along with 4,000 other individuals. Visitors often seek out the replica statue of Angelo del Dolore, the Angel of Grief. This stone creation was originally created by US artist Willliam Wetmore Story for his late wife’s grave. This statue is one of the most replicated statues in the world.
Certosa Monumental Cemetery
Bologna’s cemetery was created from the former structures of the San Girolamo di Casara. The cemetery is composed of various areas such as the Hall of the Graves, Arcade of the Graves, Gemina Hall, Columbario Hall, along with the Chapel of the Suffrages, and the Angels Gallery. Since its creation, this place has been a source of inspiration for many artists and is a popular spot for curious visitors.
Sources:
- Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno [Atlas Obscura]
- Cimitero Monumentale [Viator]
- Cimitero Acattolico Per Gli Stranieri [Lonely Planet]
- Bologna Cemetery [AR-Tour]
- Feature Picture [Instagram]
