Colon Cemetery, Havana facts for kids
Main Gate.
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1876 |
| Location |
Vedado, Havana
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| Country | Cuba |
| Style | Classical |
| Owned by | Revolutionary government (contested) |
| Size | 49.57 hectares |
| No. of graves | 800,000 |
| No. of interments | over 1 million |
El Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, also known as La Necrópolis de Cristóbal Colón, is a famous cemetery in Havana, Cuba. It was started in 1876 in the Vedado area. This cemetery was built to replace an older one called Espada Cemetery.
The cemetery is named after the explorer Christopher Columbus. It is well-known for its many beautiful and detailed sculptures and memorials. Experts believe there are over 500 large mausoleums here. Before this cemetery and the Espada Cemetery were built, people were buried in crypts inside churches in Havana.
Contents
Discovering Colon Cemetery
The Colon Cemetery is considered one of the most important cemeteries in the world. Many people think it's one of the most significant in Latin America, after La Recoleta in Buenos Aires. Before it opened, people were buried in church crypts. Later, the Espada Cemetery opened in 1806.
However, a serious illness called cholera spread in 1868. This made people realize Havana needed a much bigger place to bury its dead. So, plans for the Colon Cemetery began.
A Place of Art and History
The Colon is a Catholic cemetery. It features many grand monuments, tombs, and statues. These were created by famous artists from the 1800s and 1900s. The way plots were given out often showed a family's social class. Wealthy families used their tombs to show off their riches and power.
The main entrance in the north is a large gateway. It has carvings from the Bible. On top, there's a marble sculpture by José Vilalta Saavedra. It shows Faith, Hope, and Charity. Many of the most important tombs are found near this main gate.
Special Monuments
One important monument is the Firemen's Monument. It was built by Agustín Querol and Julio M Zapata. This monument remembers 28 firefighters who died in a big fire in Havana Vieja in 1890.
Right in front of the main entrance is the Central Chapel. It looks a bit like Florence Cathedral in Florence, Italy. This octagonal chapel is a central point of the cemetery. Another special place is the Chapel of Love. Juan Pedro Baró built it for his wife, Catalina Laza.
From the Central Chapel, straight streets lead out like a grid. The cemetery covers about 50 hectares (122.5 acres). Different areas are set aside for different groups of people. There are sections for priests, soldiers, and various social classes. There are also areas for infants and victims of epidemics. The grandest tombs are usually found along the main avenues.
Space in the Cemetery
The Colon Cemetery has more than 800,000 graves. Over 1 million people have been buried here. Because space is limited, remains are sometimes moved. After three years, they might be taken from their tombs. Then, they are placed in boxes and stored in a special building.
Even with all its beauty, some parts of the cemetery show signs of neglect. Some tombs are empty or damaged. This is especially true for families who left Cuba after the Cuban Revolution in 1959. It has been hard for them to care for their family plots from far away.
History of the Cemetery
The first stone for the Colon Cemetery was laid on October 30, 1871. Before it was fully expanded in 1934, it covered a huge area. It was designed like an old Roman camp, with clear paths and streets. This made it easy for visitors to find their way around.
A writer named Enrique Martínez y Martínez said it was the most important religious building made in Havana during the 1800s. The main square was meant to have a monument to Christopher Columbus. However, this monument was never built there.
How the Cemetery Was Designed
The Cementerio Colón is about 620 meters by 800 meters in size. This makes it 50 hectares or 122.5 acres. It was designed by Calixto Arellano de Loira y Cardoso from Galicia, Spain. He was the first person to be buried there, even before his work was finished!
The cemetery was built between 1871 and 1886 on what used to be farmland. It's laid out like a city grid, with numbered and lettered streets. This makes it a small version of Havana itself. The cemetery features artworks by many famous Cuban artists. These include Miguel Melero, José Vilalta de Saavedra, and Rene Portocarrero.
The design uses a pattern of five crosses. These are formed by streets that cross each other. The two main avenues create a large central cross. Each of the four sections formed by this cross is then divided again. This creates five squares where streets meet. The main square holds the Central Chapel. This chapel has an octagonal shape and is surrounded by arches.
The cemetery is mostly laid out on a north-south line. This is parallel to the Almendares River. Its main streets point to the four main directions: north, south, east, and west. This design uses a Greek cross symbol. It represents the four directions of the earth. You can see Greek crosses on the fence around the cemetery. They are also part of the overall design.
The Grand Entrance
Calixto Arellano de Loira y Cardoso also designed the main entrance. It is inspired by Romanesque architecture. The gate is very tall, about 21.66 meters (71 feet) high. It is also 34.40 meters (113 feet) long and 2.50 meters (8 feet) thick. The famous sculpture group of Faith, Hope, and Charity sits on top. The first stone for this entrance was placed on October 30, 1871.
Who is Buried Here?
The Colon Cemetery is the final resting place for many important people.
Firefighters and Sports Heroes
There is a special monument for the firefighters who died in a big fire on May 17, 1890. Since baseball is very popular in Cuba, the cemetery also has two monuments for famous baseball players. These were built in 1942 and 1951 for members of the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame.
Military and International Figures
In February 1898, bodies of sailors from the United States Navy battleship Maine were buried here. These sailors died when their ship exploded. Later, in December 1899, their bodies were moved to the United States. They were reburied at Arlington National Cemetery.
Three British Commonwealth servicemen are also buried here. They are remembered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. One was a Canadian Army officer from World War I. Another was a Royal Engineers officer from World War II. The third was a Royal Canadian Navy seaman from World War II. Their remains are in a special mausoleum.
Notable People Buried Here
- Alicia Alonso (1920–2019), a world-famous ballet dancer.
- Santiago Álvarez (1919–1998), a well-known filmmaker.
- Manuel Arteaga y Betancourt (1879–1963), a Roman Catholic Cardinal.
- José Raúl Capablanca (1888–1942), a world chess champion, called the "Mozart of Chess."
- Alejo Carpentier (1904–1980), a famous writer and music expert.
- Carlos Finlay (1833–1915), a doctor and researcher who studied yellow fever.
- José Miguel Gómez (1858–1921), a former president of Cuba.
- Máximo Gómez (1836–1905), a military hero from the Dominican Republic.
- Rubén González (1919–2003), a talented pianist.
- Nicolás Guillén (1902–1989), a famous poet.
- Alberto Korda (1928–2001), a photographer known for his iconic images.
- José Lezama Lima (1910–1976), a Cuban writer and poet.
- Dulce María Loynaz (1902–1997), a poet and novelist.
- Dolf Luque (1890–1957), a Major League Baseball pitcher.
- José de la Caridad Méndez (1887–1928), a baseball pitcher, known as "Black Diamond."
- Rita Montaner (1900–1958), a singer, actress, and performer.
- Fernando Ortiz (1881–1969), an expert in music and culture.
- Chano Pozo (1915–1948), a musician who helped create Afro-Cuban jazz.
- Juan Ríus Rivera (1848–1924), a military hero from Puerto Rico.
- Eligio Sardiñas Montalvo (1910–1988), a world boxing champion, known as Kid Chocolate.
- Cristóbal Torriente (1893–1938), a baseball player, called the "Babe Ruth of Cuba."
- Lola Rodríguez de Tió (1848–1924), a Puerto Rican poet.
Images for kids
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Cementerio Cristóbal Colón
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Main Gate
See also
In Spanish: Necrópolis de Cristóbal Colón para niños
