
Cemeteries are filled with flowers and mourning in memory of the departed. However, although it may sound strange to some, the truth is that for others these places of eternal rest are synonymous with rich heritage. In other words, they are a kind of open-air museum.
In Porto, you’ll find true works of art and the final resting place of several illustrious figures, such as Camilo Castelo Branco, among others. In fact, in recent years interest in this type of ‘tour’ has increased. According to the E-konomista website, in Invicta alone “visits have more than doubled”.
Before we dive into these testimonies from other times, it’s worth mentioning that Portugal is part of the European Cemeteries Route(a circuit created by the Council of Europe in 2010). So there are plenty of reasons. Now let’s feel the unheard echoes of the past.
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Prado do Repouso Cemetery
This is one of the most remarkable places of eternal rest, or it wouldn’t have been Porto’s first public cemetery. Opened in 1829, it covers around 10 hectares, where stories, tombs and trees predominate.
Of particular note is the predominance of the neo-Gothic style. In the Prado do Repouso Cemetery, illustrious people are buried, such as Ilse Losa (writer) and Manuel António Pina (journalist and author), among many other renowned figures.
- Of the poet Eugénio de Andrade, a project by the famous architect Siza Vieira;
- The painter Aurélia de Souza;
- Portuguese cinema pioneer Aurélio da Paz dos Reis, etc.
However, the ‘attractions’ of Prado do Repouso don’t stop there, as there are several monuments, such as the Ossuary of the nuns of the former Convent of S. Bento de Avé-Maria, or an iron Christ.
📍Largo do Padre Baltazar Guedes
Agramonte Cemetery
Inaugurated in 1855 , in the western part of Porto, this cemetery stands out for its Romanesque art. In fact, together with the Prado do Repouso Cemetery, it is part of the European Cemeteries Route.
There you’ll find the last ‘home’ of prominent figures from Porto, such as Carolina Michaelis. There are also several tombs with sculptures by Soares dos Reis, António Teixeira Lopes and Alves Pinto. At the same time, there are numerous monuments.
We can’t talk about the Agramonte Cemetery without mentioning, of course, the mausoleum in memory of the victims of the tragic fire at the Baquet Theatre in Porto in 1888. It is an ark built with materials from the old building, with the aim of paying tribute to the more than 100 people who lost their lives in the incident.
📍Rua da Meditação, 80
Lapa Cemetery
A visit to Lapa Cemetery can lead to the discovery of various curiosities related to tomb art. In fact, this place is so interesting that, between May and September, the Brotherhood of Lapa promotes a cycle of themed visits.
However, to tell the story of this place we have to go back to the first half of the 19th century, a time when the city of Invicta was affected by the Siege and a subsequent cholera epidemic. In this context, the high number of deaths led to the construction of a private cemetery outside the Church of Lapa. Camilo Castelo Branco and the architect Marques da Silva lie there.
📍Largo da Lapa, 1
Catacombs of the Third Order of St. Francis
This suggestion literally takes you to one of Porto’s most ‘hidden’ cemeteries: the Catacombs of the Third Order of São Francisco. Located in the Church of São Francisco, this is one of the few underground cemeteries in Portugal accessible to the public.
Recently, the Catacombs have been attracting more interest from tourists and visitors to Porto. During the 18th and 19th centuries, they were used to bury the remains and benefactors of the Venerable Third Order of St. Francis… and today they are a tourist attraction.
They stand out in particular because of the 19th century drawers, as well as the impressive ossuary, where skulls (and more) are on display awaiting the resurrection on Judgement Day. A different visit, especially suitable for those who are fans of history and sepulchral art.
📍Rua do Infante D. Henrique