Graveyard goodtimes: the world's best cemeteries

Oct 29, 2009 4:50:55 AM

Samantha Wilson
Lonely Planet Author

Note: Javascript is disabled in your browser.
To see the gallery in all its glory, you'll need to enable Javascript.

View gallery

With Halloween and Day of the Dead fast approaching, it’s only natural that our thoughts turn to subjects spooky and supernatural. Kids running around in ghost costumes…charismatic vampires…moonlit cemeteries – they’re all part of the fiendish fun.

But for many travellers, visiting cemeteries gives them a thrill no matter what time of year it is. And so, in no particular order, we give you some of our favourite afterlife attractions.

Cimitière du Montparnasse, Paris

Père Lachaise may be Paris’ big-name cemetery, hosting legends like Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison in its leafy grounds, but Montparnasse has its own charms. Namely, an all-star cast of resting residents – Serge Gainsbourg, Man Ray, Charles Baudelaire and Julio Cortázar to name a few – plus pretty landscaping that provides just the kind of tranquillity you’d hope for in the hereafter….

Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles

They didn’t want to be buried in a Pet Sematary, and they’re not. Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone ended up somewhere far ritzier: Hollywood Forever Cemetery, to be precise. Recently restored, this gorgeous graveyard is also home to some of Hollywood’s finest, including Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks and Cecil B. DeMille.

Waverley Cemetery, Sydney

Broaden your horizons at Waverley Cemetery – in the form of a sweeping cliff-top panorama between Bronte and Coogee beaches. On a sunny day, this slightly ramshackle graveyard is beautiful; in winter, there’s something almost Wuthering Heights about it. Either way, it’s got ocean views to die for.

Capuchin Cemetery, Rome

Sure, they’re all about the dearly departed, but how often are cemeteries actually decorated with them? In the crypt cemetery attached to the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Concezione, the ancient bones of some 4000 deceased Capuchin monks form a surreal subterranean swirl of light fittings, arches and ceiling details. Skeletons clad in religious robes drive the message home: death happens to the best of us.

Pyramids of Giza, Cairo

While not really a cemetery in the conventional sense, the ancient Pyramids of Giza are an enduring – and enduringly enigmatic – testament to death and the afterlife. More than 4000 years after their construction, these incredible structures continue to mystify and amaze. How were they built? Why the astronomical alignment? Whatever happened to the Sphinx’s nose?

Panteón Civil de Dolores, Mexico City

Clocking in at an impressive 1,000,000 sq m, this mammoth necropolis is Mexico’s largest. While not as picturesque as some of the other cemeteries on this list, the Panteón Civil de Dolores is worth a visit for its Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres (Rotunda of Distinguished Persons), where many of Mexico’s most heroic and beloved figures are buried, including Diego Rivera and Dolores del Río.

Cementerio de la Recoleta, Buenos Aires

La Recoleta’s reputation precedes it: as the final resting place of none other than Eva Perón, its place in Buenos Aires’ heart is assured. But while Evita occupies top billing here, she’s ably supported by a veritable Who’s Who of defunct Argentine VIPs, an imposing neo-classical entrance, serene tree-lined walkways and some eye-poppingly ornate mausoleums.

Highgate Cemetery, London

Grand, gothic and gloriously atmospheric, Highgate is home to the tombs of Karl Marx, Douglas Adams, George Eliot – even Charles Dickens’ parents. It provided a suitably spooky setting for the Hammer Horror epic Dracula AD 1972, while its infamous resident vampire caused a media frenzy back in 1970. Graveyard ghouls, this one’s for you!

Poets’ Mausoleum (Maqbaratoshoara), Tabriz

And now for something completely different. Tabriz’ marvellous Poets’ Mausoleum is a dramatic modernist building bearing little resemblance to any other tomb you’ll come across in your travels. Designed as a tribute to Persian poets, scholars and mystics, it forms an impressive focal point in a graveyard dating back almost a millennium.

Morbid or romantic? Quirky or just plain weird? Cemetery tourism is a documented phenomenon, but not everyone’s a fan. Do you visit graveyards when you travel, or do you stick to the land of the living? We’d love to hear your cemetery sentiments…

Like this? Sign up to get our best articles by email

Comments

26 November 2009 7:55PM greenisle Report this comment
I was delighted to read this article as we, the Silver People Heritage Foundation in Panama, are truly convinced that "cemetery tourism" is also becoming a very popular mode of seeing our world.
After having discovered the rich historical and cultural legacy of the "Silver People" (the former Silver Roll workers of the Panama Canal) we have worked feverishly to begin the restoration and preservation of the two largest and most notably historic cemeteries of the American era in the Republic of Panama.
Not only beautiful, these historic cemeteries represent the culture, history and contributions of the West Indian people who starting coming to Panama over 150 years ago to work on the construction of Panama Railroad and then the Panama Canal.
Visit our blog to follow this fascinating story and also read about how The World Monuments Fund has supported our efforts in saving the Mt. Hope Cemetery and the Corozal Cemetery.
http://www.thesilverpeoplechronicle.com
26 November 2009 9:07PM steurea Report this comment
You should certainly add one of europe's absolute gem: The Zentralfriedhof in Vienna which is the second biggest in europe, dating back to 1863. Covering 2.5 km2 you find lots and lots of the most famous man of classic music buried. Some names: Mozart, Schubert, Brahms,Beethoven and more recently Joe Zawinul. Nice historic graves and architecture complement the area. Trainline: S-Bahn Simmering.
Also consider adding Munich's Suedfriedhof (lots of big old brewery owner graves and some famous painters/authors) and the cemetary of eaglets in L'viv, Ukraine
26 November 2009 9:39PM ema74 Report this comment
In Italy you should take a look at Staglieno cemetery in Genoa too, http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimitero_monumentale_di_Staglieno , which is one of the major monumental cemeteries in Europe, desvribed with admiring words by Mark Twain in The innocents Abroad and cited by Ernest Hemingway as "one of the world's marvels" this cemetery is also house of the statues used by Joy Division in some of their covers.
27 November 2009 5:26AM pboae Report this comment
How about Colombus cemetery in Havana? It's not far from the Plaza de la Revolution and is one of the most beautiful cemeteries I've ever seen.
27 November 2009 8:31AM futtrup Report this comment
Don't forget the Iranian Gholestan-e Shohada – graveyard of the martyrs - in Esfahan. Pictures on all the gravestones of each of the young boys who died in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war (half a million died – on each side). The visit is accompanied by military music. http://www.futtrup.name/iran/Iran200.jpg
Also the Italian graveyard in Asmara, Eritrea is very interesting. http://www.futtrup.name/Eritrea/Eritrea%20034.jpg
27 November 2009 8:56AM ondastropicais Report this comment
Recoleta in BA is small and boring. Go to Cimeterio del Buceo in Montevideo, Uruguay.It isn't in the guidebooks. On Avda General Rivera, corner with C/ Tomas Basanez. It is not in the centre, look on Google Earth to locate it. Fantastic place with the most extraordinary tombs I've seen anywhere, they are original works of art. If you want to take photographs be discreet as the guards will only let you take general views of the place.
27 November 2009 9:04AM suethorntree Report this comment
If you're in Los Angeles during the summer, Hollywood Forever has outdoor movie nights (projected against a mausoleum wall) - bring your own food & drink. http://www.cinespia.org/ Especially enjoyable when the film you are watching contains scenes filmed at the cemetery or starring its inhabitants!
28 November 2009 3:05PM veittex Report this comment
The Staglieno cemetery in Genoa is indeed superb, but even better is the Cimentaro Monumentale in Milan, which is not to be missed. Also, the main cemetery in nearby Como has some great statuary. Another not-to-be-missed cemetery in Europe is the main cemetery in Budapest, which is easily reachable by tram/subway; great statuary and political context. For moving contrasts, check out the three cemeteries side by side in Lodz, Poland: the Catholic cemetery is immaculate, the Russian Orthodox cemetery is also well kept, but the Protestant (i.e. German) cemetery is a mass of weeds that choke some impressive monuments including a huge mausoleum that was badly vandalized after the war and never repaired.
28 November 2009 5:33PM acstev Report this comment
What about the cemetery at St Petersburg? It is beside an interesting monastery and contains the graves of many notable people for example the composer Tchaikovsky.
3 December 2009 2:00AM wandererkm Report this comment
I would have to say there are a few missing on the list. New Orleans, before Katrina has some awesome cemeteries. Savannah, Georgia as well with all the spanish moss every makes for fab photos. I have forgotten the village at the moment but where the Bronte sisters house is there is a wonderful cemetery there with the tombs above ground like New Orleans. I always go to cemeteries where ever I visit, so much history and so peaceful.