The 10 most evocative, scary and spectacular cemeteries in the world

There are places where silence tells more than a thousand words, and cemeteries are the most surprising example of this: among the most famous and beautiful ones in the world, the Père-Lachaise in Paris, the Monumentale in Milan and Staglieno in Genoa stand out, three destinations that combine art, architecture and feeling. In Italy there is no shortage of suggestive and even scary places, such as the Fontanelle Cemetery in Naples or the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, which are imposing and rich in history they are also the Monumental of Messina, while in Rome the Non-Catholic Cemetery enchants with the delicacy of its sculptures, such as the “Angel of Sorrow”. Among the ten most spectacular cemeteries there is also that of Săpânța, in Romania, where the colored tombs transform eternal rest, and again the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague with thousands of tombstones overlapping due to lack of space; The Forest Cemetery in Stockholm which is based on the concept that nature “can heal” the pain of loss; The Cemetery with hanging coffins in the Philippineswhich serve to protect the deceased from floods and allow their soul to arrive first in the realm of the dead, and that submarine in Floridabuilt as a real submerged city that hosts the ashes and celebrates the deceased with a commemorative plaque. Spectacular or melancholic, these places preserve what remains of the art, history and emotions of those who came before us.

Celebrity cemetery: Père-Lachaise in Paris

Wanted by Napoleon in 1804 to bury the dead outside the city walls of Paris, the Pere Lachaise it is probably the most famous cemetery in the world – it has over three million visitors a year! – because, among its gravestones there are some hidden most famous celebrities ever. In fact, walking among trees and paths we can pay homage, among others, to Jim Morrison, Maria Callas, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Proust, Amedeo Modigliani, Frédéric Chopin, Guillaume Apollinaire, Edith Piaf, Yves Montand. Located outside the center of Paris, in the 20th arrondissement, the Père Lachaise is named after the priest François de La Chaise (1624-1709), confessor of Louis XIV, because it was built where his residence stood.

At first the Parisians did not welcome this new area dedicated to burials, as it was distant and infamous: but when, starting from 1817, some remains of celebrities were moved there, including those of the playwright Molierethe new cemetery began to be appreciated until it became the tourist destination it is today.

The Monumental Cemetery of Milan, an open-air art museum

Once you cross the threshold of the Monumentale di Milano, you find yourself immersed in a succession of avenues and monuments that tell the story of the city and its inhabitants. It is not just a burial place, but a true open-air art gallery: majestic statues, Art Nouveau aedicules and signature architecture transform every corner into an open-air museum. Among the most famous tombs you can admire the Famedio, the monumental temple where some of the most important figures of the city rest, and works such as the Brioschi Tomb, with its bronze angel that seems to watch over the deceased, or the Galbiati Tomb, an extraordinary example of neoclassical sculpture. Walking among the tombs, you perceive the delicate balance between memory and beauty: illustrious people and ordinary citizens rest here, and each tomb tells a story of affection, pain and memories, making the cemetery a place of reflection, amazement and contemplation.

Staglieno in Genoa: where sculpture becomes memory

As soon as you enter Staglieno, the surprise is immediate: among the shady avenues and hills stand monumental statues, Art Nouveau chapels and mausoleums that look like paintings carved in stone. Considered one of the largest open-air museums in Europe, the cemetery houses masterpieces such as the Angel of Monteverde on the Oneto tomb, famous for its realistic expression, and the Rose Seller by Santo Varni, with its delicate grace. Illustrious figures such as Giuseppe Mazzini, Fernanda Pivano, Gilberto Govi ​​and Nino Bixio rest here, but also many Genoese people who wanted to entrust the memory of their loved ones to sculpture. Walking through the arcades, each monument tells stories of different eras and the marble becomes a bridge between memory and beauty.

The Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, with more than 12,000 overlapping gravestones

The Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, built in 1439 in the heart of the Josefov district, is a place where history seems to settle layer upon layer, literally. The scarcity of space pushed the custodians of the time to superimpose the burials up to twelve levels of tombstones, today around 12,000, many decorated with traditional symbols such as blessing hands, scissors, plants or animals. Among the centuries-old trees and silent shadows, tombs of great importance stand out, such as that of Rabbi Löw, legendary creator of the Golem (a mythological creature of the Jewish tradition, a gigantic clay being animated by mystical rituals, conceived to serve or protect those who evoked him), the oldest of Avigdor Kara and that of Moses Beck, the last recorded burial in 1787. Walking among the stacked stones, observing the play of light among the foliage and feeling the enveloping silence, offers an intense and evocative experience: every corner speaks of memory, tradition and hope, transporting those who visit to a distant and respectful time.

The Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo, between art and the macabre

Going down into the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo is like entering a macabre underground gallery of horrors, where time seems suspended. Formerly intended for the burial of friars, they are now famous for the mummies displayed in the corridors: among these, the little Rosalia Lombardo stands out, known as the “most beautiful mummy in the world”, but also the bodies of illustrious people such as Giovanni Paterniti, vice consul of the United States. At every corner, faces and clothes tell stories of different eras and ancient rituals; the visit becomes a journey through faith, art and popular culture.

The Fontanelle Cemetery in Naples, the cult of beggarly souls

Hidden in the heart of the Sanità district, the Fontanelle Cemetery is a place where the history of Naples is intertwined with ancient popular beliefs. Born in the 16th century as a tuff quarry, it became an ossuary during the terrible plague of 1656 and, later, hosted the victims of the cholera of 1836, hosting over 40,000 remains. The tunnels dug into the rock tell stories of pain, but also of extraordinary humanity. A particular rite, that of the “pezzentelle souls”, saw the Neapolitans adopt a skull, or “capuzzella”, praying for its soul in exchange for protection in life. This connection between the living and the dead transformed the cemetery into an ancient and vibrant community. Among the anonymous bones, two exceptions stand out: Filippo Carafa, count of Cerreto, and Donna Margherita Petrucci, whose tombs are guarded by transparent glass sheets.

The Skogskyrkogården in Stockholm, the cemetery in the forest

At the beginning of the last century, Stockholm’s administration realized that the city needed a new space to accommodate the deceased. In 1917 the Skogskyrkogården project took shape, conceived according to a Nordic architectural approach that integrated urban planning and construction with full respect for nature. The idea was to create a “cemetery in the woods”, a fascinating and mysterious place, very different from the large avenues and monumental buildings in vogue in the rest of Europe.

Completed in 1940, the cemetery winds through dense conifers, and the tombs, small and discreet, blend harmoniously with the surrounding greenery. Here, nature is not just a backdrop: according to the original project, it itself heals the pain of loss and creates a delicate bridge between life and death. Walking through the shady paths, you perceive a suggestive and meditative atmosphere, enriched by the memory of famous figures such as the actress Greta Garbo and the musician Avicii.

In the Philippines, the vertical cemetery with hanging coffins

In the city of Sagada, in the picturesque Echo Valley between the Wuyi Mountains on the island of Palawan, there is a truly unique cemetery: the coffins are literally hung on the slopes of the mountains and hills, supported by wooden poles, while others protrude from the rocks, also fixed with poles. The oldest coffins date back to around 3,750 years ago. Already in such remote times, in this and other similar areas, the custom of hanging the deceased from the slopes to protect them from floods, floods and animals spread.

It was also believed that the higher the coffins were placed, the closer they would be to the sky, thus facilitating the passage of the soul into the afterlife. Today, visitors and the curious can admire the show from the outside, but not approach the coffins: access is reserved exclusively for family members of the deceased.

The romantic charm of the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome

Once you have crossed the gate of the Non-Catholic Cemetery of Rome, you find yourself immersed in a silent, evocative garden, a few steps from the historic Pyramid of Cestius and under the gaze of the Aurelian Walls. Created in 1716 to welcome foreigners and non-Catholics – then excluded from official burials – this place soon became a refuge for artists, poets and intellectuals, who left an indelible trace here. Among the paths, you come across tombs with refined aesthetics such as that of William Wetmore Story and his wife, with the famous sculpture “Angel of Sorrow”, or the simple tombstone of John Keats, an English romantic poet. There is also the tomb of August, son of Goethe, adorned with a medallion created by the famous Thorvaldsen. Walking among cypress trees and inscriptions in dozens of languages, the cemetery reveals its delicate balance between memory, beauty and multiculturalism: each burial tells a story, transforming this corner of Rome into a place of reflection and surprise, out of time.

The Neptune Memorial Reef in Florida, the underwater cemetery

Designed as a representation of the lost city of Atlantisthe Neptune Memorial Reef, rather than a real cemetery, is a memorial place for the ashes of the cremated, which can be placed here. It is located in Florida, a about 12 meters deep off Key Biscayne and is also designed to be a place to protect the marine fauna and floraand a protected diving area for divers, who can enter temples, columns, towers, buildings and sculptures just like inside a real underwater city. The ashes are installed inside concrete structuresso that no losses occur and safety regulations are respected, and commemorative plaques are placed outside the “burial” place.