Santa Ifigenia: An Art-Laden Cemetery

Santa Ifigenia Patrimonial Cemetery, in Santiago de Cuba, is a gem of funerary art, with pieces that recall heroes, carry the love of families and turn this century-and-half-old place into a cultural and historic must-see.

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Declared National Monument on February 7, 1937, and upheld as such on May 20, 1979, the graveyard covers an area of 133 thousand square meters and presently harbors over eight thousand sepulchers, according to a report published by Sierra Maestra newspaper.

The Santiago-based cemetery recalls past and present developments in Cuba, as some of the bravest women and men from the pro-independence wars repose in it, as well as outstanding figures related to the world of art, culture and science.

One of the uppermost attractive elements in this place is the mausoleum that houses the mortal remains of Apostle Jose Marti. Inaugurated on June 30, 1951, architect Mario Santi was the mastermind behind this work, who created a 24-meter-high vault in which the ashes of the Cuban hero are always accompanied by the national flag and a bunch of white flowers.

The construction refers to the six former provinces by means of architectonic and artistic details, and our National Hero’s mortal remains rest in an urn on a lonely star, right on earth from 21 American Republics.

There are other pro-independence illustrious figures buried in this cemetery, such as Frank País García, Otto Parellada, Tony Alomá, Pepito Tey, and remarkable women like Mariana Grajales, the mother of the Maceo brothers, and María Cabrales. Furthermore, the mortal remains of the leader of the first war against the Spanish colony, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, also rest in this place. The tomb built to pay tribute to this man was sculpted in carrara marble and is nestled right in the main hall of the graveyard.

The mausoleum to the Martyrs of the Revolution and the Pantheon of the Armed Forces show the continuity of the revolutionary stage that is complemented by the monument to those who died overseas during internationalist missions.

Santa Ifigenia is also the cemetery of music and artists, as it features the Troubadours Path, with the remains of Pepe Sánchez –the creator of son-, and many other boldface names, such as Francisco Repilado (Compay Segundo). His stone plaque includes the name of his last song, The Flowers of Life, and a bronze replica of his guitar and hat.