Agramonte Cemetery

Category: Religious Architecture > Cemetery

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Agramonte

Location

Located in the western part of the city of Porto, in the area that gave it its name, Agramonte Cemetery is centrally located within the urban fabric. Its main entrance is on Largo de Agramonte. It is a large-sized space, integrated into the city's fabric, offering an expansive and accessible area.

A Historical Legacy

Inaugurated in 1855, Agramonte Cemetery became Porto's second public cemetery. Its creation is linked to significant moments in the city's history. The site it occupies today was once the old Quinta de Agramonte, a plot of land that underwent significant interventions during the war between liberals and absolutists, before assuming its current function. Currently, it remains a vast space that invites reflection and the discovery of its past.

Sculptural and Architectural Art

Agramonte stands out for its artistic and patrimonial richness. The chapel, one of the cemetery's central elements, was initially designed by engineer Gustavo Adolfo Gonçalves e Sousa between 1870 and 1874, and later expanded in 1906 by architect José Marques da Silva. Inside, one can observe Byzantine-inspired frescoes, by the Italian painter Silvestro Silvestri. The graves and mausoleums are a reflection of Portuguese funerary art, featuring notable works by sculptors such as António Soares dos Reis and António Teixeira Lopes. The cemetery also houses private areas for three Religious Orders, do Carmo, São Francisco, and da Trindade, which contribute to the architectural diversity of the complex.

Guardian of Memories

This cemetery is the resting place of several personalities who left their mark on Portugal's history, spanning areas such as culture, science, and art. Among the figures buried here are the filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira, the cellist Guilhermina Suggia, the Count of Ferreira, the sculptor Henrique Moreira, and the archaeologist António Augusto da Rocha Peixoto, among others. One of the most significant points is the memorial mausoleum dedicated to the approximately 120 victims of the terrible Baquet Theatre fire, which occurred in 1888. This unique tomb, built with materials salvaged from the theatre building itself, including twisted iron pieces and an imposing crown of martyrs, serves as a powerful symbol of the tragedy and a testament to collective memory.

A Silent Garden

Agramonte Cemetery is, besides being a place of memory, a location of significant natural beauty. Its 12-hectare area is enriched by various tree species, including camellias, white cedars, crape myrtles, and magnolias. The careful presence of these plants lends an atmosphere of serenity and peace to the environment, transforming it into a true garden, particularly inviting in spring, when the flowers blossom and fill the space with colors and aromas. The combination of funerary art and well-maintained vegetation invites a calm and contemplative stroll.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt