Cemetery tourism, or necrotourism, is a thing. If you didn’t know it we’ll find out now and if you already knew it we understand why you’re in this article. We are in the second group. We will not deny that more than once we have entered the cemeteries of Barcelona to enjoy the works of art in some pantheons or the eerie atmosphere in the corridors on an autumn afternoon.
From the Montjuïc cemetery and its views of the port to the sculpture of the Kiss of Death or the legend of the Santet in Poblenou, in Barcelona there are a good handful of spectacular cemeteries that are worth knowing, because, let’s be honest, what more genuine cultural expression exists than the way of dealing with death?
Therefore, we leave you a list of the most wonderful cemeteries in the city to make a visit in Tots Sants, Halloween … or whenever you want.
Montjuïc Cemetery
This cemetery is known for its impressive modernist architecture, its decorated mausoleums and its privileged views over the Mediterranean. It extends over a hill overlooking the sea and is full of sculptures and pantheons of illustrious figures such as Joan Miró and Francesc Macià. It also houses the Fossar de la Pedrera, a mass grave where the remains of thousands of reprisals during the Franco dictatorship lie. Guided tours allow you to explore its rich history and funerary art.
📍Location C/ Mare de Déu de Port, 56-58
Poblenou Cemetery
Founded in 1775, this cemetery is an outstanding example of neoclassicism in Barcelona. Its tombs are adorned with sculptures that reflect the artistic style of the 19th century, with some mythical ones such as the Kiss of Death.
The cemetery offers guided tours, including visits to 29 significant graves, where historical and cultural figures rest, including the Santet, the statue of a child who has the power to heal our sick.
📍Location: Carrer de Taulat, 25
Sant Gervasi Cemetery
This cemetery is less known but equally charming. It offers a tour through local history and features graves of prominent figures. As a plus, it offers an augmented reality mobile application that allows visitors to discover hidden stories as they walk through the place.
📍Location: Ctra. de Vallvidrera, 3
Sarrià Cemetery
One of the smallest and least crowded cemeteries in Barcelona, also one of the oldest and most interesting. Here are, for example, the graves of poets and artists such as J.V. Foix and Carles Riba and also, its serene atmosphere makes it an ideal place to reflect.
📍Location: C/ del Dr. Ferran, 1
Sant Andreu Cemetery
Founded in 1835, this is the second oldest cemetery in Barcelona. It offers a mix of architectural styles and notable graves, including those of soprano Montserrat Caballé and other illustrious figures. This one does not have augmented reality, but the tombstones do have QR codes available that allow visitors to learn more about the stories behind each grave.
📍Location: C/ del Cementiri, s/n
Les Corts Cemetery
This small cemetery is notable for its collection of hearses and its modernist chapel. Although less visited, it offers a glimpse into the local funerary history with a focus on the historical figures that marked life in this area, with 30,000 graves among which there are characters such as Ladislao Kubala, Valentí Centelles or a Jewish area.
Built in 1846, when a royal order prohibited burials in parish cemeteries, forcing it to be built on the outskirts of Les Corts, this cemetery is somewhat less visited, but offers a glimpse of local funeral history with a focus on the historical figures that marked life in this area.
📍Location: Avinguda de Joan XXIII, 3*15
Igualada Cemetery: A Masterpiece of Funerary Architecture
The Igualada Cemetery, Barcelona, is an architectural jewel designed by Enric Miralles and Carme Pinós. Completed in 1994 after nearly a decade of construction, it integrates harmoniously with the Catalan landscape, creating a thought-provoking “park for the dead”. Its innovative design includes concrete walls that blend into the surroundings and subway passageways, symbolizing the final journey and the unfinished nature of life.
This cemetery is not only a place of eternal rest, but also a work of art that explores the connection between life and death. With intentionally unfinished elements, it reflects the abrupt interruption that death causes in our plans. Enric Miralles’ choice to be buried here underscores his deep connection to this work, making the Igualada Cemetery an outstanding destination for necro-tourism and a space that transcends the funerary.
📍Location: Carrer dels Països Baixos, 23, 08700 Igualada
Reus Cemetery, the best cemetery in the country.
The magazine Adiós Cultural, belonging to Funespaña, organizes annually the State Cemetery Competition. In its eighth edition, a jury of experts in various fields has determined that the best cemetery in Spain is that of Reus, in Catalonia, beating other famous cemeteries in the country.
The Reus General Cemetery, founded in 1871, houses about 13,500 graves and stands out for its historical, artistic and architectural value. It offers tours that show works by renowned architects, sculptors and artisans of the 19th and 20th centuries.
📍Location: Av. de la Pau, 43203 Reus, Tarragona
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