PERIOD 19th century

DESCRIPTION

This cemetery is of general interest due to the numerous mausoleums that the 19th century bourgeoisie had built there. It is currently being restored for the construction of gardens, recreation areas and other facilities.

San Miguel Cemetery, the city's first modern graveyard was consecrated in 1810, at a time when the city was occupied by Napoleon's troops. Nevertheless, it would be some decades before it took on its current aspect. The wall around it was not built until 1827 and it was another two years before it was considered completed, fact that is commemorated in the inscription on the triangular metal plaque above the entrance arch.

It has four large patios.

The first of these is full of richly embellished pantheons, some worthy of admiration and which demonstrate excellent artistic taste. This was where the vestry was located, the mortuary and the chaplain's house. It is laid out in an octagonal design with nine aisles that make ten gardens. In the central path of this patio there is a column that stands over a fountain (fed with water from San Telmo Aqueduct). This was topped by a marble image of Our Lady La Inmaculada, said to be the work of Pedro de Mena, but which has not been preserved to our days.

The second patio, as the previous one mentioned, is undeniably interesting from a historic-artistic perspective, as apart from the architectural and sculptural value of the pantheons, there is their facet as 'pantheons of the illustrious men' of the social, economical and cultural circles in Malaga's recent past. These pantheons and mausoleum - distributed in these two consecutive patios- belong to important families of the times, religious orders and brotherhoods, and most of them were built during the 19th century, although there are some constructions from this century.

The third patio, which only contains niches, offers little interest except for the fact that on the right, as you enter, is the place where the victims of 1 January 1889 were buried.

The first is very similar to the second but there are also countless sepulchres in the ground

Numerous personalities have been buried in San Miguel Cemetery: painters, such as Antonio Muñoz Degraîn, Bernardo Ferrándiz, Martînez de la Vega or Moreno Carbonero; writers, such as Salvador Rueda or the American author Jane Bowles, as well as mayors, politicians, military personnel and important persons in the life of the city. It is not only full of human remains, but it also contains and extraordinary wealth of heritage. For this reason, although officially closed, its gates remain open to the public.

Association of Friends of San Miguel Cemetery

HOW TO FIND IT

Address: PL PATROCINIO 3,  29013  Málaga
Telephones:     Oficina: 952250856
Web: www.cementeriosanmiguel.com