A high stone wall surrounds this place. It’s Agramonte Cemetery. Today we’ll explore its history and beauty.
Agramonte Cemetery opened in 1855. It sits in the western part of Porto. The city needed a public cemetery quickly due to a cholera outbreak. The existing Cemetery of Prado do Repouso was not sufficient. Private cemeteries were also unsuitable.
The cemetery chapel was built between 1870 and 1874. Gustavo Adolfo Gonçalves designed it. José Marques da Silva expanded it in 1906. Silvestro Silvestri, an Italian painter, created the Byzantine-style frescoes in 1910.
Religious orders have private cemeteries here. The Carmelites, Friars Minor and Trinitarians negotiated with Porto City Council. They replaced their old cemeteries with areas in Agramonte. Their previous locations were at risk of closure.
In the 1870s wealthy families started building monuments. They also constructed family mausoleums. Before this, mainly poorer people used Agramonte. Now, it became a place for elaborate displays of remembrance.
A large memorial commemorates the 120 victims of the Teatro Baquet fire in 1888. Pieces of the theater that survived the fire were used in its construction. It serves as a poignant reminder of the tragedy.
Many well-known people are buried in Agramonte Cemetery. These include archaeologist António Augusto da Rocha Peixoto and cellist Guilhermina Suggia. Filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira and actress Emília Eduarda also rest here.
The tombs feature sculptures by António Soares dos Reis and António Teixeira Lopes. They showcase a representative collection of Portuguese sculptural work. The artistry adds to the cemetery’s cultural significance.
Abigail de Paiva Cruz a painter sculptor and activist is buried here. António Carneiro a painter poet and professor also rests here. Berta Alves de Sousa a pianist and composer found her final place here. Edgar Cardoso a civil engineer is also located here. Gonçalo Sampaio a professor anthropologist and botanist also rests here.
Other notable burials include Júlio Dinis a writer and doctor. Luís Costa a composer pianist and teacher also rests here. Pedro Blanco López a composer pianist and teacher is also located here. Pedro de Oliveira an architect also found his final place here. Tomásia Veloso an actress and singer is also located here.
Agramonte Cemetery covers about 12 hectares. It is a significant historical and cultural landmark in Porto. The Departamento Municipal de Planeamento e Gestão Ambiental manages the cemetery. The Divisão Municipal de Saúde Pública e Bem-Estar Animal also helps. They protect and maintain its historical and cultural heritage.
The cemetery offers several services. These include burial, transfer or exhumation. You can also request permission for vehicle entry. Other services include conservation work on tombs and issuance of certificates.
The Largo de Agramonte serves as the main entrance. The public opening hours are from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Agramonte Cemetery provides a glimpse into Porto’s history. It honors the lives and legacies of those who shaped the city.