Whispers rustle through the trees here at Cemitário de Benfica. This is not just a cemetery. Cemitário de Benfica is a place of rest and remembrance. It is located in the parish of Benfica.
The Cemitário de Benfica was built in 1869. The Municipality of Lisbon initiated its construction. The cemetery initially received remains from the parishes of Benfica and Carnide. It became one of Lisbon’s main public cemeteries. Several parishes are within its area. Until Amadora’s cemetery was built, Amadora residents were also buried here.
The Cemitário de Benfica has temporary and permanent graves. You can also find family tombs and municipal mausoleums. Ossuaries are also present. The tomb of Francisco dos Santos is particularly noteworthy. Architect Raul Rodrigues Lima designed it. Sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida created the sculptures. Francisco dos Santos was also a sculptor. He created Sousa Viterbo’s tomb in the Cemitário dos Prazeres.
Several notable people are buried in Cemitário de Benfica. These include the poets Alexandre O’Neill and Delfim Guimarães. The writer and journalist Maria Lamas also rests here. The marathon runner Francisco Lázaro and the hockey player António Livramento are interred here. There is also a memorial to Fernando Vaz. He was a football player and coach. The tomb of Padre Cruz is a site of daily pilgrimages.
Originally, this area was known as Arneiros. It was a high area. Therefore, the Cemitário de Benfica was initially called the Arneiros Cemetery. “Arneiros” refers to sandy and barren land.
In 1880, graves were moved here. These were from the old Benfica parish cemetery. That cemetery was located near the new parish church. The identified remains and some original tombstones were moved to Cemitário de Benfica.
The cemetery expanded in 1925. The city acquired a mill and land from Manuel Joaquim da Silva. Gonçalo Ribeiro Teles designed a green space during another expansion in 1959. Further expansion occurred in the first decade of the 21st century. José Luís Monteiro designed the chapel here at Cemitário de Benfica.
Among the many souls resting here is Alexandre O’Neill. He lived from 1924 to 1986. Adelina da Glória Berger is also here. She was an activist who lived from 1865 to 1922. Francisco Lázaro is buried here. This athlete lived from 1891 to 1912. Maria Lamas rests here too. She was a writer who lived from 1893 to 1983. António Livramento is also interred in Cemitário de Benfica. He was a hockey player who lived from 1943 to 1999. The priest Francisco Rodrigues da Cruz is also buried here.
Take a moment to reflect. Many stories lie within these walls. Cemitário de Benfica is a testament to lives lived and legacies left behind.