Cimitero di San Michele – An Island of the Dead

May 4, 2012 10 Comments »

Cemetery Island Venice

A fallen cross in the Orthodox cemetery

If Venice is named the Floating City, then Cimitero San Michele should be named the Floating Dead.  Yes, it sounds eerie, but cemeteries can also be quite beautiful and moving to visit.  The Cimitero di San Michele has no shortage of moving stories and images.  The only way to get to it is via boat.  It’s a very quick trip out to the cemetery island and you can use your normal water bus pass to get there on the No. 41 or 42 vaporetto at the Fondamenta Nuove platform.

Venice’s Cemetery Island

The island houses 3 different cemeteries; Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox sections vary greatly.  The Catholic section is well kept and groomed.  However, the Protestant and Orthodox sections are in disrepair.  I actually prefer the less coiffed cemeteries as it makes me stop and reflect more about the graves I’m looking at.  The toppled over crosses and gravestones leave many questions in my head; why did no one fix it, did no one care, is anyone in their family left, and the list goes on.

The bodies are of course transported by boat to the island in either a boat hearse, or a  funeral gondola. Since the island has a finite amount of space, real estate is an issue.  The bodies are allowed to decompose for twelve years, at which point they’re dug up. The families can then pay to ‘extend their lease’ or the remains are moved.  Even when you have passed you are still moving around I guess.

The island is beautiful to photograph – go see for yourself!

Cemetery Island Venice

The Catholic cemetery is stacked high

Cemetery Island Venice

Rasaries are draped on a statue

Cemetery Island Venice

Watering cans hung for flower maintenance

Cemetery Island Venice

The Protestant cemetery

Cemetery Island Venice

Graves in the Catholic section

Cemetery Island Venice

The view of Cimitero from Venice

Cemetery Island Venice

The grave of Sergei Diaghilev, the head of the Ballet Russe

Cemetery Island Venice

A woman walks through the Catholic cemetery

Cemetery Island Venice

Ladders are placed around the cemetery to reach the top grave-sites

Cemetery Island Venice

Grieving statue

Cemetery Island Venice

Flowers placed on a tomb

I’m not the only one who finds cemeteries beautiful – check out this website solely dedicated to Cemetery Travel!

Disclosure: Go with Oh hosted my apartment lodging in Venice. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own – as you know how I love to speak my mind!


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