As a vacationer, there are various issues to do in São Paulo, Brazil. It’s a giant, cosmopolitan metropolis with stunning parks, fashionable structure, and a vibrant artwork scene. One of many extra memorable locations I’d visited there, nevertheless, is the Consolação Cemetery.
Cemeteries enchantment to individuals who love darkish tourism. For me, cemeteries give an perception into the tradition I’m visiting. Each time I’ve an opportunity, I all the time strive to take a look at cemeteries within the cities I go to.
I’d been to St. Louis Cemetery in New Orleans the place I noticed Nicolas Cage’s tomb (reserved for when he dies), Montmartre Cemetery in Paris, Assistens Cemetery in Denmark the place I noticed Hans Christian Andersen’s tomb, and the Laeken Cemetery in Brussels, the resting place of the Royal Household, amongst others.
Of those, Consolação Cemetery is unquestionably among the best to go to.
The First Public Graveyard in São Paulo
Situated within the district of Comfort, Consolação Cemetery is the oldest functioning graveyard of São Paulo. It was established in 1858 as town’s first public graveyard. At first, it accepted individuals of all social courses, however it will definitely began accepting solely individuals from excessive social courses.
The town’s the Aristocracy and different rich households definitely needed to be buried in type, and tombs and mausoleums have been constructed with marble and bronze artworks. Probably the most famend artists have been employed to create stunning sculptures, resulting in the cemetery being thought of an open-air museum.
The Funerary Artwork in Consolação Cemetery
Consolação Cemetery is well-known for its tumular artwork (a.okay.a., funerary artwork). A whole bunch of sculptures in granite, marble, bronze, and different supplies by well-known artists and sculptors grace the tombs and mausoleums. This type of art work symbolizes love, sorrow, and reflection and is unquestionably well-represented right here.
On the entrance of the cemetery, for instance, you will note the work of architect Ramos de Azevedo. He designed the cemetery’s monumental gate, the identical architect who designed town’s Municipal Theatre (Theatro Municipal).
As soon as inside, try the large mausoleum of the Matarazzo household, the biggest in Latin America. Don Francesco Matarazzo (a.okay.a., Rely Matarazzo) was, in his time, Brazil’s richest man. He was conferred the title of Rely by Italy’s King Victor Emmanuel III attributable to his monetary help to Italy throughout World Battle I. The household mausoleum is as tall as a three-story constructing and adorned with bronze sculptures by Luigi Brizzolara, a well known Italian artist.
Effectively-Recognized Personalities Buried in Consolação Cemetery
Apart from Matarazzo, Consolação Cemetery can also be house to varied essential personalities within the historical past of Brazil together with Dr. Manuel Ferraz de Campos Gross sales (Brazil’s 4th president), Washington Luís (the thirteenth president of Brazil), José da Costa Carvalho (Prime Minister of Brazil), Tarsila do Amaral (one of many main Latin American modernist artists), Mário de Andrade (one of many founders of Brazilian modernism), Olívia Guedes Penteado (artwork patron and philanthropist), Domitila de Castro (the long-term mistress of Emperor Pedro I), and plenty of others.
Many tombs have art work that may really be thought of museum items. Take “The Burial” by Victor Brecheret. It’s an award-winning sculpture gracing Penteado’s tomb, exhibiting a Pieta scene with Mary Magdalene, Mary of Cleopas, St. Elizabeth, and a fourth lady that many individuals suppose represents Penteado.
In one of many tombs, you’ll find a phenomenal expression of modernism that got here to São Paulo within the twentieth century, the primary feminine bare sculpture in Consolação. Known as “Amparo” and created by Francis Leopold e Silva, the work represents the loneliness of those left behind. It was carved for the tomb of Teodureto de Carvalho and his spouse.
Look out additionally for the tomb of Eduardo da Silva Prado, the founding father of the Brazilian Academy of Letters. It has a damaged column, which represents that the particular person died earlier than his time.
Consolação Cemetery is unquestionably not just for darkish vacationers, however anybody who appreciates good artworks. Visiting the cemetery is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in São Paulo and I might extremely advocate it if you go to Brazil!
