Cementiri de Palma

Useful Information

Location:	Camí de Jesús, 2, 07011 Palma. (39.587225, 2.639240)
Open:	no restrictions. [2022]
Fee:	free. [2022]
Classification:	Catacomb
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Cementiri de Palma, Camí de Jesús, 2, 07011 Palma, Illes Balears, Tel: +34-971-75-08-01.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

24-MAR-1821	inaugurated.
1826	first known burials on the circumference wall in the second sector.

Description

The Cementiri de Palma (Palma's cemetery) is just a typical cemetery, one of hundreds on the islands. It was opened in the 19th century and at that time burials were made in rows, one tomb next to the other. With the growth of the city the cemetery was enlarged various times, today there are seven sections. Quite exceptional is the section on the west side, which is a semi-circular buiding. In the surface there are graves like in the rest of the cemetery, but there are also ellipsoid openings in the middle of the paths. They are the daylight openings of the catacombs of Palma’s cemetery.

The catacombs are six underground passages which are quarter circles, three in each block. Together they for a semicircle, separated by a ditch, with a ramp and staircases leading down into the ditch. They were built for the victims of the November 1918 influenza epidemic, which created the need for hundreds of tombs.

There are obvious reasons why graveyards rarely become tourist sites. Especially when they are still in use. Some, with the graves of celebrities, are quite unhappy with the fans gathering. This cemetery is not a tourist site, but it has become known to tourists during the last decade and are now and then visited by interested people. The catacombs are special, and definitely worth a visit, but as you do so, we suggest to be careful and respect the beliefs of locals who visit the graves of relatives. There were also organized nighttime outings at full moon, which included recitals of poems and novels as well as short theatrical performances. We are not sure if they are still offered, but it actually seems they are organized irregularly. It's best to check with the local tourist info for recent information.