Cemetery of San Rafael y San Roque

The Cemetery of San Rafael y San Roque is a burial ground divided into two distinct sections with different architectural styles and grave types. The Catholic area features elaborate mausoleums with decorative details, while the Protestant section presents simpler vertical gravestones marked with biblical symbols and Celtic crosses.

This burial ground opened in 1811 when yellow fever struck the city, creating an urgent need for a new cemetery. It continued to expand over the following decades until closing in 1916 when a newer facility opened to serve the growing population.

The cemetery reflects how different communities were buried separately, with each section showing distinct religious practices through its monuments and grave designs. Visitors can see how marble sculptures and decorative elements reveal the values people held about remembering the deceased.

The cemetery is no longer in active use and requires significant restoration to preserve its structures for future generations. Access may be limited depending on ongoing conservation work, so checking current conditions before visiting is wise.

The Protestant section, locally called La Chercha, sits at a higher elevation and occupies a noticeably smaller portion of the grounds. This physical separation reflects how religious communities were kept distinct even in death during the 1800s.