Although a guide to Lisbon’s cemeteries isn’t a route that will appeal to everyone, we want to appeal to you who enjoy this kind of “adventure”.
That’s why we’ve decided to take a trip into the little-known underworld of Lisbon’s cemeteries, which offer an incredible wealth of cultural and artistic heritage.
These are just some of the city’s most important cemeteries:
- Alto de São João Cemetery
- Ajuda Cemetery
- Prazeres Cemetery
The aim of this article is to introduce you to the cemeteries’ historical heritage, from an artistic, political, social and religious point of view.
1 – Prazeres Cemetery
Did you know that the Prazeres Cemetery has already been classified as a museum?
It’s a veritable “open-air museum” and to visit it is also to learn about national history, from the 19th century to the present.
Personalities such as Mário Cesariny, Natália Correia, Vasco Santana, Carlos Paredes and Ofélia Queiroz are buried here, as well as the only official girlfriend of Fernando Pessoa.
Prazeres is also home to the largest private tomb in Europe, called “Jazigo Palmela”, built in 1847 and designed by architect Giuseppe Cinatti.
Address: Praça São João Bosco
2 – Alto de São João Cemetery
Inaugurated in 1833 to deal with an outbreak of cholera that decimated Lisbon, this cemetery is currently the largest in the city, covering 22 hectares, where you’ll find various types and countless architectural styles!
Its initial model was based on that of the Parisian Père-Lachaise, where mythical figures such as Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde are buried.
Here, therefore, we find a long list of politicians, intellectuals, artists and prominent figures in society, such as Admiral Cândido dos Reis, the republican figure after whom the popular Avenida Almirante Reis is named, or the emblematic actress Ivone Silva.
There are also numerous tombs with Masonic symbolism.
Address: Parada do Alto de São João
3 – Ajuda Cemetery
The Ajuda Cemetery was built by order of Queen Maria I for the poorer population of Belém and Ajuda, and also for those who served the Royal Household .
Completed in 1787, it houses several tombs of historical and/or architectural importance.
The tomb of Domingos Parente, the architect responsible for the design of Lisbon’s Town Hall and the portico of the Prazeres Cemetery , and the tomb of Admiral Gago Coutinho, responsible for the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, are two examples.
Address: Calçada do Galvão
10 lugares que não parecem ser em Lisboa, mas na verdade são!