Cementerio Presbítero Matías Maestro facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cementerio Presbítero Matías Maestro

Details
Established	1810
Location	Lima District, Peru
Owned by	Charity of Lima

The Presbyter Matías Maestro Cemetery (in Spanish: Cementerio Presbítero Matías Maestro) is a special place in Lima, Peru. It's not just a cemetery where people are buried, but also a museum and a historical monument. It's located in the Barrios Altos neighborhood.

This cemetery opened on May 31, 1808. It was the very first big cemetery in Lima. Before this, people were usually buried inside churches. The cemetery is named after its designer, a Spanish priest named Matías Maestro.

Inside, you'll find 766 beautiful mausoleums (fancy tombs) and 92 historical monuments. These structures show amazing art from the 1800s and 1900s. Many important people from Peru's history are buried here. This includes leaders, soldiers, and famous writers. One of the most important parts is the Crypt of Heroes. This is a huge monument built to honor the brave soldiers who fought in the War of the Pacific.

History of the Cemetery

An old chapel at the cemetery entrance (1868), which is no longer there.

The Presbyter Matías Maestro Cemetery was the first public cemetery in all of America. When it was first planned, some people didn't like the idea. They were used to burying their loved ones in churchyards or under churches.

However, the cemetery officially opened in 1808. The Viceroy of Peru, José Fernando de Abascal, led the opening. The whole project was guided by Matías Maestro. He was a Spanish architect, sculptor, and painter. Maestro came to Peru in the late 1700s. By 1793, he became a Catholic Priest. He then spent his time making churches and altars look new in the popular Neoclassical style. He later became the head of Lima's Charity Society in 1826.

The cemetery was designed very carefully. It followed the new style of the time, with everything arranged in a clear and organized way. It had straight paths, chapels, and parks. An octagonal (eight-sided) chapel was built, but it was later taken down. Inside, the chapel had beautiful paintings by José del Pozo, a painter from Spain.

Amazing Art and Sculptures

This cemetery is like an outdoor art gallery! You can find many artworks by famous artists from different countries. Some of the artists were from Spain, like Damià Campeny. Others were from France, like Louis-Ernest Barrias and Antonin Mercié. There were also Italian artists such as Ulderico Tenderini and Giovanni Battista Cevasco.

Peruvian sculptors from the mid-1900s also have works here. For example, Romano Espinoza created the monument for Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro. Luis Agurto made the bronze sculptures for Óscar R. Benavides's tomb. The angel on Francisco Graña's monument was made by Aldo Rossi. The sculpture for Alfonso Ugarte's monument was created by the Spanish sculptor Josep Campeny.

One special artwork in the cemetery is El Ángel de la Guarda (The Guardian Angel). It was made in 1947 by the sculptor Isabel Benavides Barreda.

Cripta de los Héroes (Crypt of Heroes)

Crypt of Heroes

Cripta de los Héroes
The mausoleum at night
Designer	Emile Robert [es]
Type	Mausoleum
Material	Stone, marble
Opening date	September 8, 1908
Restored date	2002
Dedicated to	War of the Pacific

The Crypt of Heroes (in Spanish: Cripta de los Héroes) is the biggest and most important monument in the cemetery. It was built to remember all the brave people who died during the War of the Pacific. At the entrance of this huge tomb, it says: "The Nation, to its Defenders in the War of 1879."

History of the Crypt

The idea for the Crypt of Heroes came from a law passed on December 3, 1906. It was officially opened on September 8, 1908, when José Pardo y Barreda was the president. The architect Emile Robert designed this impressive structure using a mix of different art styles. On top, it has a marble copy of a famous sculpture called Gloria Victis, made by Antonin Mercié.

In 1953, the Crypt became a "Patriotic Sanctuary" and was put under the care of the Peruvian Army. In 1986, the monument was made even bigger. A second basement was added so more soldiers could be buried there. In 2002, the Crypt was restored to look like it did when it was first built.

What the Crypt Looks Like

The Crypt of Heroes is a round monument that stands over 30 meters (about 100 feet) tall. It has three levels: a main entrance level and two levels underground. A large dome sits on top, and the outside is decorated with columns in the neoclassical style. Inside, it's covered in beautiful marble with black patterns, and there are colorful stained glass windows.

In total, the Crypt holds the remains of 295 identified heroes. Some are in special stone coffins called sarcophagi, and others are in wall niches. There are also 2,065 plaques on the walls with names of soldiers or unknown victims.

Main Floor

The main floor is where you enter the monument. It's covered in fine marble. Here, you'll find the sarcophagi of Peru's greatest heroes from the war. These include Miguel Grau, a naval hero who died in the Battle of Angamos in 1879. Another is Colonel Francisco Bolognesi, who bravely defended Arica and died in battle in 1880. The walls also have marble plaques with the names of people who helped or fought in the war.

First Basement

You can go down to the first basement using a side staircase. This level has 234 niches where remains are buried all around the circular space. In the center, you'll see the sarcophagus of Marshal Andrés Avelino Cáceres, another important military leader. There are also five large containers called ossuaries. These hold the remains of unknown soldiers who died in famous naval battles like Angamos and Iquique. They also hold remains from land battles like Tarapacá and Tacna and Arica.

Second Basement

The lowest level has 29 sarcophagi and 40 white marble niches. These stand out against the black marble on the floor and walls. Here, you'll find Alfonso Ugarte and other heroes from the War of the Pacific.

Famous People Buried Here

Many important people from Peru's history are buried at the Presbyter Matías Maestro Cemetery. These include:

Heads of State

Academics and Thinkers

Artists and Writers

Gallery

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  El Panteón de los Próceres

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  The cemetery at night

See also

• Church of the Holy Christ of Wonders
• El Ángel Cemetery
• Nueva Esperanza Cemetery