Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, colonial-era cemetery located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is a burial ground in Old San Juan located next to the old city walls and near Castillo San Felipe del Morro. The site features two sections of different ages, accessed through a bright yellow and white gate that leads to the oldest graves where many important Puerto Rican figures are buried.
Construction of the cemetery began in 1863 and was originally managed by Carmelite nuns. This long history makes it an important location for understanding how burial practices and the city evolved through the 19th century and beyond.
The cemetery is named after Saint Maria Magdalena de Pazzi, a religious figure from Spain. Its oceanfront location reflects a belief in the spiritual journey of souls across water after death, rooted in Spanish traditions about death and the sea.
The cemetery is open to visitors during daytime hours and can be reached on foot or by car through a short tunnel off Calle Tiburcio Reyes. An on-site worker can answer questions, and a visit typically takes about 40 minutes, though you can also view graves from the city walls using binoculars.
The grounds hold graves of notable Puerto Rican figures including actor Jose Ferrer, composer Rafael Hernandez, and political leader Pedro Albizu Campos. From the walls you can see El Morro on one side and La Perla on the other, connecting this site to the larger story of the region.
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