Life-like statues and huge mausoleums, check out the amazing Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno.
I’m really into cemeteries, which you probably already know if you’ve read a few of my blog posts. I wasn’t going to revisit the northern Italian coastal town of Genoa (Genova), as I had been to the city already and didn’t see the need to revisit. However, during my extreme planning of a 4-month adventure to Europe in 2016, I came across a cemetery that looked so awesome I had to visit. It just happened to be on the outskirts of the city of Genoa. So, I returned, and I was not disappointed.
The Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno (Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno) truly earns its name. It’s monumental on a grand scale, even one of the largest in Europe. A square kilometer of tombs and some of them are just plain fantastic. You do have your basic tombs here, but then there is also this:
Lots and lots of this.
The history of Staglieno Cemetery dates back to 1804 when Napoleon, then in charge of Northern Italy, decreed that no more people can be buried within churches and cities. Suburban cemeteries sprung up leading to grand ones like this, along with the famous Père Lachaise in Paris. The cemetery opened its doors in 1851. It’s full of realistic sculptures of weeping angels and widows, along with the people buried in the tombs. The cemetery started with an orderly Camposanto (as in Pisa) with grand tombs in niches and orderly rows of simple tombs in the courtyards. Overtime, disorderly and park like layouts emerged, similar to Père Lachaise, with mausoleums and tombs laid out across a hilly landscape.
Courtyards were filled with small family plots with simple tombs.
The cemetery contained a large building. The interior consisted of vaults such as this.
On the outside ring of the same building, you find those amazing, extremely detailed monumental tombs. Just endless, endless amazing tombs.
Just so much going on here.
What appears be a monk praying beside this sarcophagus.
A serious orator, with a crying widow below. The sculptors went great lengths to correctly sculpt the fashions of the day.
A family in mourning, including a little girl hugging a statue. So life like.
A very detailed little girl in mourning. I would love to see these tombs after they have been cleaned.
This tomb is a bit different than the others. A bit more color and some busts this time.
This is my favorite tomb sculpture here. So much detail down to the lace and the tears. She even has wrinkles.
This one is very different from the rest. It’s probably not as old and has been cleaned recently.
There is a lot going on here. I think the people on the left are pleading with the angel, while the soul of the dead floats up to heaven.
Along the same lines of the last tomb. A soul is being whisked away to heaven.
This one is just plain awesome. I want a tomb with a marble boat.
Just a naked woman staring at a skull on top of a cross. Just a wee bit strange.
More amazingness can be found outside of the building. Like this mausoleum that looks like a Tuscan church.
I love the vault built into the hillside, with a mausoleum on the top.
This mausoleum is beyond ridiculous. I love it.
Some ornate statues can still be found high up the hill in the parkland part of the cemetery.
Check out this dapper fellow.
Tombs are built right up the hillside.
Last but not least, this wonderful mausoleum.
Staglieno Cemetery is a must if you find yourself in Genoa. It’s easily reached from the harbor by bus. You can spend days wandering through and checking out all the amazing tombs here. The cemetery has actually been a tourist attraction since the late 1800s, so it’s not weird or anything. Genoa also a bunch of other attractions, including a royal palace, churches and an architecture museum. It’s a great city to visit if you happen to be on a budget.
Check out all my other posts on Cemeteries and Tombs!
those tombs are just fantastic. So realistic. Thank you for sharing.