Prazeres Cemetery () is one of the largest cemeteries in Lisbon, Portugal; it is located in the freguesia (civil parish) of Estrela, in western Lisbon (formerly, within the parish of Prazeres). It is considered to be one of the most beautiful and famous cemeteries in the world. It is home to the Mausoleum of the Dukes of Palmela, the largest mausoleum in Europe.
Prazeres Cemetery is the resting place for many famous personalities, including Prime Ministers and Presidents of Portugal, notable literary figures such as author Ramalho Ortigão, famous artists like painters Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro or Roque Gameiro, prominent musical figures like pianist Alexandre Rey Colaço or composer João Domingos Bomtempo, and numerous other notable burials, especially from the Portuguese nobility.
History
Prazeres Cemetery was founded in 1833 after the outbreak of cholera in the city, along with Alto de São João Cemetery. It was originally named Cemitério Ocidental de Lisboa (Western Cemetery of Lisbon). The cemetery is exclusively made up of mausoleums.
Since 2001, a portion of the cemetery's auxiliary buildings have been converted into a museum.
Amália Rodrigues, famous as the "Queen of Fado", and Aquilino Ribeiro, famed novelist, were both buried at Prazeres Cemetery prior to their reinterment at the National Pantheon. Famed poet Fernando Pessoa was also buried at Prazeres prior to his reinterment at Jerónimos Monastery.
Gallery
Notable burials
1st Count of Bonfim, famed statesman
1st Count of Farrobo, noted patron of the arts
1st Count of São Januário, founder of the Lisbon Geographic Society
1st Duke of Loulé, 21st & 24th Prime Minister of Portugal
1st Duke of Palmela, 1st Prime Minister of Portugal
1st Viscount of Castilho, noted writer
"Alcipe", 4th Marquise of Alorna, noted poet
Alexandre de Serpa Pinto, notable explorer
Alexandre Rey Colaço, famed pianist
Alfredo Keil, composer of the Portuguese national anthem
Alfredo Marceneiro, notable fado singer
Alfredo Roque Gameiro, famed artist
Amélia Rey Colaço, famed actress
Almada Negreiros, famous artist
Anselmo José Braamcamp, 36th Prime Minister of Portugal
António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, 20th-c. Brazilian millionaire
António Silva, famed actor
Antonio Tabucchi, famed Italian author
Carlos do Carmo, notable fado singer
Carlos Paredes, Portuguese guitar player
Carolina Beatriz Ângelo, famed physician and suffragette
Cesário Verde, famed poet
Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, famous painter
Cosme Damião, founder of S.L. Benfica
Cottinelli Telmo, famed architect
Curry Cabral, famed physician
Elise, Countess of Edla, second wife of Ferdinand II of Portugal
Fernando Namora, famed writer
Fontes Pereira de Melo, 33rd & 35th Prime Minister of Portugal
Francisco Craveiro Lopes, 12th President of Portugal
Henrique Mitchell de Paiva Couceiro, noted monarchist
Hermenegildo Capelo, famed general
João do Canto e Castro, 5th President of Portugal
João Domingos Bomtempo, famous classical piano composer
Joaquim Mouzinho de Albuquerque, famous general
José Malhoa, famous painter
José Mendes Cabeçadas, 9th President of Portugal
José Norton de Matos, famous general
José Vianna da Motta, famed pianist and composer
Manuel Carvalheiro, filmmaker and film theorist
Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho, famed poet
Maria Barroso, 25th First Lady of Portugal
Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo, 108th Prime Minister of Portugal
Mário Cesariny de Vasconcelos, famed poet
Mário Soares, 25th President of Portugal
Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, famed artist
Ramalho Ortigão, famed author
References
Bibliography
Cultural Patrimony of Prazeres Cemetery at the Direção-Geral do Património Cultural