Whispers from the past. That’s what the Cementerio de Santa Cruz in Cartagena seems to offer. Right here before you stands a place steeped in history. It’s more than just a cemetery. It’s a living testament to Cartagena’s rich and layered past.
The Cementerio de Santa Cruz is located on Manga an island just outside the walled city. It’s probably from around the 1700s. It’s old. It’s seen better days. That’s for sure. Yet it’s still very much in use. Some say it was abandoned. That’s not entirely true. A security guard often sits near the entrance. Many people tend to gravesites here regularly.
This isn’t your typical manicured cemetery. The stones and vaults are damaged. Weather time and perhaps vandalism have taken their toll. Older vaults are being reused for new interments. Many niches are broken open empty. You might even see some exposed human remains. We saw quite a few bones. We even saw some skulls complete and partial.
The above-ground tombs and the style of the stones remind some of New Orleans cemeteries. There are statues and offerings. There are tons of brightly colored fake flowers. One stone even has a miniature awning protecting its flowers and trinkets.
The Cementerio de Santa Cruz is special. It holds the remains of some of Cartagena’s most prominent families. It’s also the resting place of martyrs of independence. Incredibly it’s where Juan José Nieto Gil is buried. He was Colombia’s only Black president. He was a key figure in the abolition of slavery in republican Colombia. The cemetery is a hectare and a half. It was the city’s first cemetery. It’s one of the most representative cemeteries on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
Despite its state of disrepair the Cementerio de Santa Cruz remains a powerful place. It’s a place where history whispers. It’s a place of remembrance. It’s a poignant reflection on life death and legacy. A visit here is a journey through time. A journey you won’t soon forget. The Cementerio de Santa Cruz is more than just a cemetery. It is a captivating story waiting to be discovered.