Burial reform! That’s what led to the creation of Cemitério de Lagoa. For centuries people had been interred in churches. This practice caused hygiene problems especially in crowded cities like Porto.
In 1835 Portugal’s government banned burials in churches. They stipulated that burials should only occur outside city limits. This reform aimed to improve public health. The government wanted to prevent the spread of diseases. These diseases were caused by accumulating corpses in churches.
This ruling marked an important step. It was towards the modernization of the Portuguese state. It also initiated its secularization.
Cemitério de Lagoa stands as a testament to this shift. It reflects a changing attitude toward death and public health. The picturesque city of Porto is famous for its winding streets. It is also known for historic buildings and unmistakable port wine. But it also holds lesser-known treasures. These treasures are hidden deep within its soil. These are the cemeteries in Porto.
These sacred sites are final resting places. They are also silent chronicles of the city’s history. These tell stories of love loss triumph and tragedy.
Portugal’s public cemeteries were officially created in 1835. Inhumations inside churches became prohibited then. It took many years until this law was fully accomplished. Popular resistance to outer cemeteries remained strong.
Today the most important cemeteries are considered museums. They are very important places of history and art. Cemeteries are also galleries of remarkable men. They are pantheons of noble families. They serve as archives made of masonry and ironwork. Their pompous mausoleums reflect a particular attitude toward death. This attitude was so emphasized in the 19th century. It was the preservation of one’s memory.
Each cemetery became a place of memory. Each became a city of the dead. They contain some of the same paradoxes and virtues. They share it with all the other cities.
One of the largest cemeteries in Porto is the Cemitério Prado do Repouso. It was Porto’s first public cemetery.
If you are familiar with Portuguese history you will discover the graves of numerous famous people. You will find Portuguese politicians actors academics and aristocrats. The graves of famous people tend to take a back seat in this cemetery. There are beautiful neo-Gothic crypts made of marble and granite. There are unique sculptures and lovingly designed details. These adorn some of the graves. In some areas the cemetery has a structured layout. In other areas the graves are close together. They almost form a small town.
Considered the oldest Portuguese cemetery built in Porto during the Romantic period, Cemitério de Lagoa provides a tranquil place for meditation. The graves are divided into different levels. These are connected by stairs. Some of the city’s most famous works of art are displayed here. Important personalities of the city have found their final resting place here. Many of the tombs are surprisingly well preserved.