Association of Significant Cemeteries of Europe: 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.