Sensitive memorial evening at Westerveld

On Saturday 2 November Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium (the Netherlands) held an impressive commemoration.

Call For Papers

for the  international symposium organised to debate topical issues on significant historic cemeteries, share best practices and experiences.

Enriched research section

Academic and professional research of cemeteries in a central source.

Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery (Madrid, Spain)

Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery (Madrid, Spain)
The largest cemetery in Europe and one of the largest in the world. With nearly 5 million graves it has become a popular tourist attraction.

About the cemetery

With a history of 125 years, Almudena is the cemetery of Spain’s greatest personalities and offers tours to tourists interested in its cultural heritage.

The cemetery covers 120 acres of land and it is crowded with visitors especially on All Saints' Day. The cemetery was built in 1884 and it soon needed to be expanded, due to the cholera epidemic that has reached Madrid the very same year. The monuments in the cemetery boast various architectural styles: neoclassical, neo-romantic or neo-mudejar and typical Madrilenian, from the late nineteenth century.

Important people at the cemetery

Almudena cemetery is said to be the eternal place for a few millions of people, the number being equal to the population of Madrid. Some of the most notable people buried here are:
  • Niceto Alcalá-Zamora (1877–1949), president of the Second Spanish Republic,
  • Vicente Aleixandre (1898–1984), poet, Nobel laureate,
  • Dámaso Alonso (1898–1990), writer,
  • Ángel de Andrés (1918–2006), actor,
  • Benito Pérez Galdos (1843–1920), famous Spanish writer,
  • Luis Barbero (1916–2005), actor,
  • Pío Baroja (1872–1956), famous Spanish writer,
  • José Bódalo (1916–1985), actor,
  • Tullio Carminati (1882–1965), Spanish Hollywood actor,
  • Julia Caba Alba (1902–1988), singer and actress,
  • Julian Marias (1914–2005), philosopher,
  • Estrellita Castro (1914–1983), singer, actress,
  • Antonio Flores (1961–1995), rock musician,
  • Lola Flores (1923–1995), actress,
  • Antonio Garisa (1916–1989), actor,
  • José María Caffarel (1919–1999), actor,
  • Irene Gutiérrez Caba (1929–1995), actress,
  • Alfredo Mayo (1911–1985), actor,
  • Antonio Molina (1928–1992), actor,
  • Jose Conde Nieves (1911–2006), director,
  • Luis Peña (1918–1977), actor,
  • Ángel Picazo (1917–1998), actor,
  • Emiliano Piedra (1931–1991), film producer,
  • Federico Romero (1886–1976), poet and librettist,
  • Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852–1934), scientist, Nobel prize winner,
  • Fernando Rey (1917–1994), actor,
  • Cecilia Sobredo (1948–1976), singer and others.
The most visited graves are those of artists and writers, such as Benito Pérez Galdos or the Spanish singer and actress Lola Flores, as well as political figures, such as Dolores Ibarruri, La Pasionaria.

Address

Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery
Avenida de las Trece Rosas
28017 Madrid
Spain