Cemetery of Punta Arenas, Cemetery in Punta Arenas, Chile

The Cemetery of Punta Arenas, also known as Sara Braun Cemetery, is a public burial ground in the northern part of the city. It covers four hectares and features a grid of tree-lined avenues, with a main entrance on Bulnes Avenue and two side entrances on Francisco Bilbao and Angamos streets.

The cemetery opened in 1894 to replace an older burial ground that stood where a city square now lies. In 1919, the perimeter walls and entrance gate were added, designed by engineer Fortunato Circutti and funded by Sara Braun.

The cemetery is a place where local families come to remember their ancestors, and the mausoleums of early settler families like Menéndez-Behety and Braun Hamburger are still cared for by descendants. On November 1, many people gather here to clean and decorate the graves, keeping a tradition alive.

The site is open to visitors daily, and the flat terrain and wide paths make it easy to explore on foot. Start at the main entrance on Bulnes Avenue to get your bearings, and allow extra time to wander through the side avenues.

One of the graves here belongs to the "Indio Desconocido", an unknown indigenous man whose tomb became a spot for offerings and thanks. Another notable burial is that of Charles Amherst Milward, the sailor who inspired Bruce Chatwin's book In Patagonia.