Invitation to NEPHESH | Protecting the Shadow

The Teatro delle Albe invites you to experience NEPHESH | Protecting the Shadow, a headphone-guided walk that redefines how we contemplate life, death, and historical cemetery spaces.

About the experience

NEPHESH | Protecting the Shadow is an immersive site-specific listening experience by Teatro delle Albe, conceived and directed by Alessandro Renda. Designed for small groups of participants, the project transforms the cemetery into a space for reflection, inviting visitors to explore themes of memory, grief, and the fragility of life through a silent, headphone-guided journey.

Moving among graves, monuments, sculptures, and hidden corners of the cemetery, participants are accompanied by a carefully crafted sound dramaturgy that weaves together personal stories, literary and philosophical reflections, and perspectives on death drawn from different cultures and traditions. The experience unfolds as a collective yet deeply personal journey, encouraging contemplation of the bonds between people, memory, and place.

Neither a guided tour nor a conventional theatre performance, NEPHESH | Protecting the Shadow offers a unique way of engaging with cemetery heritage. As visitors walk through the site, the cemetery emerges as a threshold between past and present, life and death, revealing its role not only as a place of remembrance but also as a space for dialogue, reflection, and cultural encounter.

The title Nephesh comes from the Hebrew word that can mean “breath,” “soul,” “life,” or “living being,” reflecting the project's exploration of what remains after death and how memory continues to shape the lives of those who remain.

Summer Tour Dates 2026

➤ Bologna | Cimitero della Certosa

• May 26th, 2026 | 19:00
• June 9th, 11th, 16th, and 25th, 2026 | 19:15
• July 9th, 17th, and 23rd, 2026 | 19:15

In collaboration with Per Aspera Festival

➤ Gorizia | Cimitero Monumentale

• August 26th, 27th, and 28th, 2026 | 19:00

Festival In\Visible Cities - Contaminazioni Digitali

Further Information

For additional information, please contact Francesca Venturi at info@teatrodellealbe.com or +39 335 7173664.

Related links:

• Presentation (PDF)
• Official Website
• Official Trailer

*Photos source: www.teatrodellealbe.com

Highlights from the WDEC 2026 in Krakow

Highlights and photographs from the guided walk held on 27 May 2026 at the New Cemetery of Podgórze in Kraków, Poland.

About the event

More than 30 people attended the guided walk “In the Footsteps of Famous People”, held on 27 May 2026 at the New Cemetery of Podgórze in Kraków. The event was organised by the Association PODGORZE.PL as part of this year’s Week of Discovering European Cemeteries (WDEC).

Following a short introduction to the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) and the idea behind WDEC, participants were presented with a brief history of the cemetery. The walk then continued with visits to eight graves of notable individuals buried there, including scouts, painters, and soldiers.

The tour was guided by members of the Association PODGORZE.PL together with invited guests.

More information about the event is available at: https://podgorze.pl/kolejny-spacer-po-nowym-cmentarzu-podgorskim-za-nami/

Photos from the event

Nafplio Cemetery (Nafplio, Greece)

Nafplio Cemetery is a historic 19th-century burial ground and open-air museum showcasing protected Romantic Classical sculptures and the graves of the nation's early elite.

Cemetery History

The current cemetery of Nafplio was established in 1852 following a generous land donation to the Municipality of Nafplio by the great benefactor Michael Iatro. It was built to replace the old burial ground at the chapel of Agioi Pantes, which could no longer accommodate the city’s growing population.

As Nafplio served as the first capital of the independent Greek state, it became a hub for the country’s elite. Politicians, artists, scientists, merchants, and foreign diplomats gathered here, and many found their final resting place in this cemetery. Notably, it includes the graves of prominent Greek writers Angelos Terzakis and Nikos Karouzos, as well as a dedicated military section honoring soldiers and heroes who fought for Greece’s freedom.

Cemetery Art and Architecture

From its earliest years, the Nafplio Cemetery developed into a remarkable site of funerary art. It is characterized by the dominance of Romantic Classicism and is heavily influenced by ancient Greek architecture. The emerging 19th-century Greek bourgeoisie expressed its ideals through diverse architectural styles, ranging from simple graves to grand mausoleums and tombs imitating ancient temples.

The predominant feature is the tombstone column—either plain or adorned with relief carvings of winged figures symbolizing death—along with prominent busts and portraits of the deceased. Masterpieces by renowned 19th- and early 20th-century sculptors such as Iakovos Malakates, Georgios Bonanos, Ioannis Vitsaris, and the Kotzamanis brothers adorn the grounds. The most significant sculptures line the entrance and the path to the small church of Agioi Asomata. Recognizing its immense cultural value, the Greek Ministry of Culture has officially designated thirty-five of these funerary monuments as protected landmarks.

Cemetery Significance

Today, the Nafplio Cemetery is widely regarded as a site of both historical reflection and artistic significance, attracting visitors from across Greece and abroad. Its significance is closely linked to Nafplio’s identity as a city of the arts, home to galleries, exhibitions, and academic institutions dedicated to the performing and visual arts.

Visitors come not only to pay their respects to the deceased but also to experience the cemetery as a peaceful, contemplative space and an open-air museum of sculpture. In its quiet setting, it offers a rare sense of continuity between past and present, where diverse cultural traditions are preserved side by side. In this way, the cemetery provides a direct and meaningful connection to the history, memory, and artistic heritage of Nafplio.

A virtual tour of selected funerary monuments is available HERE.

Cemetery address

21 Mihail Iatrou Str.
21100 Nafplio
Greece

Basic data

Date of first burial: 1852
Cemetery area: 2 ha
Approximate number of graves: 1.600
Approximate number of yearly burials: 150

Virtual Colloquium on Cemeteries 2026: Call for Papers

The Cemetery Research Group invites you to participate in the Virtual Colloquium on Cemeteries, which will take place entirely online on 20 November 2026.

About the Colloquium

On Friday, 20 November 2026, the Cemetery Research Group will host a virtual colloquium via Zoom.

The event will focus on places and practices relating to the disposal of the dead, including burial, cremation, and other methods.

Tickets for the colloquium will be available on the CRG website from 9 October 2026.

Call for Papers

The colloquium invites scholars working in the social sciences and humanities, as well as postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers, to submit papers that combine theoretical insight with empirical research on the proposed theme.

Each presentation will be allocated a 30-minute slot, comprising approximately 20 minutes for the presentation followed by time for questions and discussion. The event is open to contributors from around the world, and panels will be scheduled to accommodate different time zones. All presentations must be delivered in English.

Abstracts may be submitted via this Google Form by 2 October 2026.

For any questions, please contact Dr Julie Rugg at julie.rugg@york.ac.uk.

WDEC 2026 at Piran Municipal Cemetery

On 29 May 2026, a special guided tour “Stories of Piran Carved in Stone” took place at the Piran Municipal Cemetery in Piran, Slovenia.

Discovering the Stories of Piran

As part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026, the Public Company Okolje Piran, in cooperation with the Italian Community of Piran, organized a guided tour of the Piran Municipal Cemetery, one of the most significant cultural heritage sites in the Slovenian coastal region.

The event was inspired by the publication of the new brochure “Piran Cemetery – A Journey Through Memory, Art and Local Identity”, prepared by historians Kristjan Knez and Marina Paoletić. Their research and dedication to preserving local heritage formed the basis of this activity, which aimed to reveal the cemetery not only as a place of remembrance but also as a unique open-air museum reflecting the history of Piran and its people.

A Journey Through Art, Architecture, and History

During the guided tour, visitors discovered the architectural and artistic value of eight remarkable family tombs belonging to some of the most influential Piran families. Each monument tells a story about the individuals buried there while also reflecting the artistic styles, social status, cultural influences, and values of the period in which it was created.

Among the highlights were the Bartole family tomb, known for its exceptional stone craftsmanship and symbolic motifs, and the Rota family tomb, inspired by ancient sarcophagi and dedicated to historian, musician, and archivist Stefano Rota. Visitors also explored the monumental Zarotti tomb, the elegant symbolism of the Cicogna tomb, and the artistic significance of the Fonda tomb, one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau funerary sculpture in the region.

A special part of the programme focused on the Neo-Gothic Church of Saints Hermagoras and Fortunatus, which has stood at the heart of the cemetery for more than 150 years. Participants learned about its history and the recently completed restoration of the church surroundings, including conservation work on the forecourt, stairways, and historic burial sites.

The tour concluded at the de Castro family chapel, whose distinctive architecture contributes to the visual and cultural identity of the cemetery complex.

Preserving Memory and Local Identity

Through this activity, visitors were invited to experience the cemetery as an open-air gallery, where art, architecture, history, and personal stories intertwine. The event highlighted the role of cemeteries as places of cultural memory and sustainable heritage, helping preserve local identity while fostering public appreciation of historical landscapes for future generations.

You can read more about the event HERE.

Photos from the event:

25 years of preserving the heritage of humanity

Since 2001, members of ASCE have gathered in mission to preserve and promote the cultural heritage, resting in cemeteries. Join us in celebrating 25 years of our joint efforts through two special activities.

Our Mission and Journey

Since 2001, members of ASCE have gathered in mission to preserve and promote the cultural heritage, resting in cemeteries.

To tackle the common belief that these are the places of death and instead focusing on the stories of life. Millions of stories expressed through tiny symbols on tombstones or grandeur of chapels and mausoleums, each being a masterpiece of its own.

ASCE became the largest and most important international association working on this mission. Gaining recognition and influencing how the public and institutions perceive cemeteries. Through changing their perception we gather more support in performing our activities.

A Continuous Process

It is a continuous process now embodied in various projects of ASCE like Week Of Discovering European Cemeteries, European Cemeteries Route, Symbols, Schools on cemeteries, Cemeteries for Sustainable Europe, Peace tree and many others.

This is the work of countless people; cemeteries employees, enthusiasts, researchers, managers and other professionals who find our common mission important.

Yet this is the work that never stops. Each day is a discovery of an old story, a start of a new story waiting to be discovered. Every year we find new challenges that we must overcome at our cemeteries.

This is why we must celebrate the achievements of the past 25 years and look forward to the future. Finding more opportunities to cooperate with each other, more ideas to work together on common projects.

Join the Celebration

Presidency and Steering Committee of ASCE invite you to mark our joint efforts this year by 2 activities:

• Publish and encourage sending of our symbolic postcard.
• Print the 25 years banner and when performing your activities this year, send us a photo with the banner in the background.

25 Years of ASCE Postcard

The 25th winter Olympic games in Milan took place as 25 years of ASCE is celebrated.

To celebrate both, our anniversary postcard is dedicated to the memories of life of extraordinary athletes resting in Significant Cemeteries of Europe. Those who mastered their body and mind to move the boundaries. Either by setting the records or competing at the olympic games. Winter or summer.

Members of ASCE are invited to use the postcard template and print their own version, exposing the athletes that are resting in their cemetery and other cemeteries all over Europe.

How to participate?

• Download the template.
• Change 1-3 circles with your own choice of athletes.
• Make sure you send one postcard to the address of ASCE presidency:
  
  ASCE
  Cesta XIV. divizije 39a
  2000 Maribor
  Slovenia

Download PDF

25 Years of ASCE Banner

Let’s celebrate 25 years of ASCE together, all over Europe. At any event you organise or take part in this year, display the ASCE 25 years banner and capture a memorable photo with your participants.

To showcase our unity, send us photos from the event along with a short description of the occasion, so that we can share them on our website, social media, and other communication channels.

Show us how proud you are to be part of the largest network working towards a common mission of preserving and promoting the cultural heritage resting in cemeteries.

How to participate?

• Print out the official ASCE 25 years banner.
• Gather your staff and visitors in front of it during events.
• Snap a photo and email it to us alongside your event description to be featured at:
  
  admin@significantcemeteries.org

Download PDF

WDEC 2026 in Barcelona Cemeteries

As part of the WDEC 2026, Cementiris de Barcelona is showcasing its educational programme “Life Lessons: Cemeteries as Educational Heritage”.

About the programme

One of the pillars of Cementiris de Barcelona is its educational service, which works to promote Barcelona’s cemeteries as cultural assets of exceptional importance, fostering public knowledge and helping to normalize death. This mission is reflected in the programme "Life Lessons: Cemeteries as Educational Heritage". Although featured during WDEC 2026, the programme is not limited to this one week. Educational activities are conducted throughout the year across several Barcelona cemeteries, demonstrating the organisation’s long-term commitment to learning, cultural heritage, and community engagement.

The educational activities, tailored to various learning stages, offer a unique opportunity to explore the rich funerary heritage of the Poblenou and Montjuïc cemeteries—both classified as monumental by the Council of Europe—as well as the Funeral Carriage Collection, the Funerary Library, and other cemeteries in Barcelona. Together, these sites represent a significant cultural legacy and a collective memory shared by society.

This initiative is led by the team at Cementiris de Barcelona: highly qualified professionals committed to continuous improvement, who balance compassionate care for families during the farewell process with excellence in educational outreach. By engaging students in meaningful educational experiences, the educators foster deep respect for heritage preservation while working to normalise death as an essential, natural part of life.

By addressing a fundamental topic that remains taboo for many, these activities provide a supportive space for reflection. The subject of mortality is approached with the utmost respect for diverse beliefs, religions, and cultural traditions, allowing participants to fully appreciate the rich symbolic expressions that define Barcelona’s funerary heritage.

You can read more about the programme HERE.

WDEC 2026 at the City cemetery "Pri Sv. Duhu"

City Cemetery “Pri Sv. Duhu” in Koprivnica, Croatia, marked WDEC 2026 with an educational walk for high school students and a new promotional video.

City cemetery promotional video

As part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries (WDEC), held from 22 to 31 May 2026 and organized by the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), the City Cemetery “Pri Sv. Duhu” in Koprivnica, managed by Komunalac LLC, once again took part in this significant annual event. As a member of ASCE, the Koprivnica cemetery promotes the value of cemeteries as places of cultural heritage, history, art, and memory through its activities.

On this occasion, a new promotional video about the city cemetery was produced. Cemeteries are much more than places of remembrance – they are open-air museums and guardians of local history, architecture, and cultural heritage. Through this video, Komunalac LLC invites visitors to take a walk through the cemetery and discover its peace, artistic value, and the stories of notable individuals who have shaped our city. You can watch the video HERE.

Educational walk for students

This year’s event theme focuses on knowledge and quality education for young people, with the aim of introducing them to cultural heritage, history and important people through an interesting and student-friendly approach.

As part of the program, an educational walk through the city cemetery was held on May 28, 2026, with the participation of first-grade students from the “Fran Galović” General High School, accompanied by their class teacher Mišela Lokotar and history teacher Maja Maček Trešcec. The educational tour was led by cemetery manager Josipa Loinjak and horticultural engineer Nataša Njegovec along a pre-planned route designed for high school students.

Learning about heritage and sustainability

During the tour, the students learned about the history of the cemetery and its significance for the local community, as well as interesting facts about notable individuals and important historical events. They also explored the cemetery’s landscape, horticultural, and architectural values. Special emphasis was placed on raising awareness of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and respecting spaces of memory.

In addition to the educational content, the students had the opportunity to learn about the cemetery’s new, more advanced waste separation system, which helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and increases the share of recyclable materials.

WDEC 2026 at the Lower Cemetery of Volintiri

On 26 May 2026, a special guided walk for local students took place at the Lower Cemetery of Volintiri (Moldova), focusing on education, memory and local history.

A guided walk for local pupils

As part of WDEC 2026, the Volintiri Municipality and the “Maria Biesu” local school organised a special guided walk for students at the Lower Cemetery of Volintiri on 26 May 2026. Bringing together education, local heritage and community memory, the activity invited pupils to explore the graves of local teachers and reflect on the lasting role of educators in shaping local identity, values and history.

At the cemetery, pupils discovered that local heritage is not only preserved in books, but also in places that keep the community’s memory alive. Guided by two local teachers—Ms Angela Tih (school director) and Mr Stepan Efremov (history teacher)—the group walked from one grave to another, focusing on the resting places of educators and school staff who shaped generations in Volintiri.

The visit was designed as a learning journey. At each stop, pupils were encouraged to listen, ask questions and reflect: What does a teacher leave behind? How do schools and families carry values forward? How does a village remember those who served it? These discussions naturally connected education with identity and civic responsibility, showing that “quality education” is also about respect, gratitude and continuity.

From remembrance to action

A key moment of the activity focused on preserving memory. We talked about the importance of maintaining teachers’ graves, especially those who no longer have relatives able to care for them, as well as renewing a local tradition of visiting these places with pupils to clean and maintain them. In this way, remembrance becomes action and offers pupils a practical lesson in community responsibility.

To extend learning beyond the cemetery visit, pupils were encouraged to continue the conversation at home by starting with a simple question: “What does the word cemetery mean?” This helped connect school learning with family dialogue, strengthening intergenerational understanding of local history and heritage.

Through this activity, the Lower Cemetery became more than a place of remembrance—it became a meaningful learning space where education meets memory, and where pupils can see how local history is preserved through people, places and shared responsibility.

Photos from the event

*Photos source: www.facebook.com/PrimariaVolintiri