Not everyone is ready to visit the cemeteries while on vacation, but the Christopher Columbus cemetery (Cologne Cemetery) in Havana is still worth a visit. Located in Vedado, it occupies almost 60 hectares of area and is known, firstly, because famous politicians, cultural and sports figures and other important persons are buried here. Secondly, it is possible to see very interesting and beautiful tombstones, or even whole memorials.

Colon Cemetery was opened in the second half of 19 century . Strictly speaking, originally it was planned to bury the remains of the great seafarer, but this honor was contested by Cuba by Spain . There are about half a thousand monuments in total, and every second is a white Catholic characteristic of the Catholic faith sea ​​sculpture, statue or stela . However, there are among them the Egyptian pyramids and modern spherical structures . All the tombstones are so artistically decorated that they give the Cubans a reason to consider this Havana cemetery as the most beautiful, at least in all of South America . Among the celebrities buried on it, you can mention the great chess player Raul Capablanca, the fighter for independence Maximo Gomes, the Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier .

At the same time the graves of such outstanding personalities are just not as interesting as those in which ordinary mortals are buried . The largest monument in the cemetery Colon (23 m in height) is a monument to those killed by firefighters . One of the most strange graves is the resting place of Rodriguez Card, which was buried vertically . Touching and chilling legends are also related to the names of ordinary people: for example, the story of the right is popular here dog, cat for many years, came to the grave of the mistress, or about the girl Milagros, who died during childbirth, which the Havanese are revered as the patroness of the mothers . It is believed that, while observing a certain ritual, while visiting the grave, Milagros fulfills the requests of the visitors .

Cologne Colon - very clean, well-groomed and neat, and in addition - quite quiet. Tourists here practically do not attend, in vain the cemetery is a couple of steps from the very center of the city, the Plaza de Armas and the Malecon waterfront. However, if you wish, you can explore the necropolis accompanied by a guide.

Entrance to the cemetery Kolon

Main chapel, Kolon Cemetery

Kolon Cemetery

Colon Monuments, Colon Cemetery