European Ribbon

📖  Introduction

Prazeres Cemetery, which translates to “Cemetery of Pleasures” from Portuguese, is a unique and essential stop on a tour of Lisbon. Its name is intriguing, though it has no direct references to eternity. The name comes from a previous space on the site where various celebrations were held. Despite being one of the more well-known cemeteries globally, it remains quiet and peaceful. It covers nearly 12 hectares and forms a parallel city within the city, consisting of over 7,000 tombs surrounded by the largest population of cypress trees on the Iberian Peninsula. 

🚶Visit

The journey to Cemitério dos Prazeres is magical in itself, with the final stop of tram line 28 right at its gate. It is Lisbon’s second-largest cemetery, with burials dating back to 1833, following a cholera epidemic. The cemetery’s picturesque location is typical of Lisbon’s charm. Resembling a small town, it features narrow lanes winding up and down.

The entrance is marked by an ornate wrought-iron gate with patterns symbolizing death and rebirth. Opposite the entrance is an escarpment offering a spectacular view of the Alcântara district and the 25 de Abril Bridge. At the cemetery’s center stands the grand Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres (Our Lady of Pleasures) from the mid-19th century, which houses an old dissection room and various items used in funeral rituals. 

Romantic cemeteries like Prazeres allowed the newly emerged Portuguese bourgeoisie to showcase their social status through the construction of impressive and elegant tombs, richly decorated and adorned. The cemetery predominantly features private tombs that often resemble small buildings, churches, cathedrals, or castles. Many have glass doors or windows adorned with curtains, slightly obscuring the interior. Inside, one can see photos or favorite items of the deceased, such as books, figurines, rosaries, or a statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Numerous tombs are architectural masterpieces, including the largest private pyramid-shaped mausoleum in Europe, belonging to the Dukes of Palmela. Built in 1840 by the first Duke of Palmela, Pedro de Sousa Holstein, the country’s first modern Prime Minister, it now houses over 200 family members and features sculptures by renowned Portuguese and Italian artists.

The cemetery is the final resting place for many notable figures, including Prime Ministers, Presidents, Portuguese nobility, artists, and writers. It once held the remains of poet Fernando Pessoa, later moved to the 🔗 Jerónimos Monastery, and the most famous fado singer, Amália Rodrigues, relocated to the National Pantheon.

The cemetery also hosts a small museum (Núcleo Musológico) with exhibits from destroyed and abandoned tombs.

Visitors will undoubtedly notice the many relaxed cats lounging around. This family of cats, roaming majestically among the tombs or lazily basking in the sun, undoubtedly  adds to the cemetery’s charm.