We like visiting cemeteries. The two biggies in Barcelona are Montjuic and Poblenou. Montjuic has a lot more history (and free guided tours...) but Poblenou was far more accessible for us.
As cemeteries go, it's not really that thrilling. The oldest graves are nondescript and from the early 1800's and the place is in use still. Mostly, it's just rows and rows of what we call "cemetery condos"...
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| 6 stories tall. Yes, there are ladders. |
...interspersed with blocks of large scale crypts.
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| Some are fancier than others |
Just because you're in a small condo, doesn't mean you aren't remembered.
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| Copious flowers |
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| One impressive shrine |
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| Even children pass away, sadly |
Not all are ornate, however.
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| Still remembered, just on a smaller budget |
Often, families occupy condo blocks together.
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| Up, down and all around |
With all due respect, some are just... "interesting".
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| I think this guy was a surveyor... |
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| ...who surveyed trains and helped build ships |
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| Charming |
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| Huh? Inside a tomb... |
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| ...decorated with fake stars. |
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| Maybe this person shot a lot of clay pigeons |
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| Well, that's just... |
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| ...interesting |
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| I think this dude like to drink |
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| That's probably there for a reason |
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| Not sure about displaying the medals |
In the end, it was a large but not terribly interesting cemetery, though we appreciated the walking tour that took you to tombs and crypts that were architecturally significant.
The Poblenou district where the cemetery is located is near the beach on the northeast side of downtown, and got its name because it was the first of the "new villages" that was built outside the city walls. It has lots of old converted warehouses and industrial facilities that aren't very interesting. The main drag, however, is very pretty, as are all the "Ramblas" that you find around Barcelona.
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| Tree lined |
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| A wider view |
They have a market just like all the rest of the markets in town run by the same City government that runs all the others -- that, like all the others, was closed in the middle of the afternoon when we were there.
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| Looks like every other closed market |
Some of the buildings in Poblenou are quite pretty.
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| Very French Provincial |
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| Ornate exterior decorations |
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| This is the back of the building. Couldn't see the front well |
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| Poblenou streets |
I think, in the end, we should have bit the bullet and visited Montjuic. Poblenou cemetery was OK but nothing special. Nice neighbourhood, though.
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