KARACHI, October 25, 2016: On the 31st of October the Western world will celebrate the old pagan festival of Halloween. This ancient Pagan festival originated in Ireland as a Celtic harvest festival—known as Samhain in Gaelic.
But for every other day of the year departed souls are remembered in places called cemeteries or graveyards, many of which are big tourist attractions famous for the celebrities’ graves that they house. Lamudi Pakistan—the online property portal has made a shortlist of the world’s most recognised graveyards.
Pere-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris
This is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris spanning 110 acres. Among the notaries are Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, and Oscar Wilde. “Yes, death. Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence.” as Wilde once said.
The design of the cemetery has been copied throughout the world; its combination of trees and marble and its sea of gravestones has set the benchmark for world class cemeteries.
La Recoleta, Buenos Aires
One cemetery that you will never forget visiting is La Recoleta. It is the site of 4,691 vaults and remarkably all of them are above ground. There is a diverse range of architectural styles on display from art deco to neo-gothic and most of the materials were imported from Paris and Milan. Famous people who reside there after death include Eva Peron who was the protagonist of the musical Evita. She no longer wishes the Argentinian people to cry for her.
Zentralfriedhof, Vienna
The amazing Zentralfriedhof in Vienna is one of the largest cemeteries in the world. There is an old Viennese joke that the cemetery is half the size of Zurich and twice as much fun, that may be true, but those little Swiss army knives are incredibly useful. It is the final resting ground of Beethoven and Strauss. It is rumored that the two ghosts jam together on Halloween night. A spooky symposium if ever there was one.
Arlington National Cemetery, Washington DC
This is the site of burial for over 360,000 American veterans. Most visitors head straight for John F. Kennedy’s grave, but the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every thirty minutes is just as memorable.
“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.”
Sao Joao Batista Cemetery, Rio de Janeiro
If you were a president in Brazil, you probably ended up here, along with famous poets, playwrights, musicians, and singers. It is located in the neighborhood of Botafogo and was the first cemetery in Latin America to be added to Google Street View.
Highgate Cemetery, London
Many films are set in this particular cemetery including “Taste the Blood of Dracula” and “From Beyond the Grave” but it is not just film buffs that come to visit, staunch communists and liberal arts students are keen to see the tomb of Karl Marx.
“The death of heroes is like a sunset”
Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague
Different to most famous cemeteries this one bears no graves of famous people. However, it is the burial ground of 12,000 Jewish souls and it one of Europe’s most haunting sites.
Prazeres Cemetery, Lisbon
This cemetery happens to be at the end of the popular tourist tram in Lisbon, so tourists often stumble upon it unintentionally. Its tombs are among the biggest in the world. Inside, the Duke of Palmela has an enormous pyramidal mausoleum; the largest in Europe. Its name may seem inappropriate as it means pleasures, but that is just the name of the neighbourhood. On the hill, you can enjoy great views of the city.
Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh
There are many ghost stories associated with the Kirkyard cemetery in Scotland. In 2004, a pair of teenagers entered the tomb via the ventilation slot; they reached the lower vault broke into the coffins and stole a skull. Police arrived and caught them playing football with the skulls on the grass. These kids too playing heads and volleys to another extreme.
Merry Cemetery, Romania
One of the world’s most ornate graveyards is in Romania. The 900 graves are marked with oak carvings, art, and poetry tells tales of each person’s life. One such epitaph for a man fond of his alcohol reads “Leave a little wine.”
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Sundus Anwar believes in the power of clear, straightforward writing. Her blog posts tackle everyday topics with relatable insights and easy-to-follow advice. With a conversational style, she makes complex subjects feel understandable. She’s dedicated to sharing knowledge and empowering readers to take action. Find her latest posts on trending in social.
