We Stop for Cemeteries

My beloved Blog has been neglected for the past year, as I succumbed to the 'Quick Fix' of posting my cemetery photos on Facebook ~ no time consuming research is required in order to uncover any interesting stories .......
I was simply drawn to the instant gratification of posting and prompt mutual appreciation of sharing pictures.
But the simple posting of pictures meant that the fascinating stories behind them became forgotten and that had been a huge part of the passion that lead me to writing this blog in the first place.
So I shall start as I meant to go on and tell you about my most recent Cemetery Adventure.

Just over a week ago we decided to spend Christmas at the Italian Lakes with my folks. 
I knew that we would be visiting Milan and doing the requisite whistle stop 'City Tour'.

I know that Milan has an amazing monumental cemetery and I'd admired countless photos of those lucky enough to have visited it. What an irony to be this close to it and yet so far ~ I had even thought of asking if I could be dropped off and picked up again a few days later, but it was an organised trip with timetables to be adhered to and this was a family holiday after all. 
So I shelved that idea and made a mental note to self to put it on my 'Cemeteries To Do List' 

When we joined our coach trip, the two drivers, Mark and Sam greeted us dressed as Santa Claus and his Elf ~ A very Merry Christmas was definitely assured at this time.

On the day of the Milan City Tour, it was explained that we would see the famous Cathedral ~ 5th largest in the world ~ the Citadel, other points of interest and wait for it...the Cemetery ~ did I hear them right ? ~ yes The Cemetery. 
Whoops of joy came from me as I explained to Mark and Sam how excited I was ~ This was the best Christmas gift of the Year ~ I told them about this blog and bless them, even if they thought I was slightly demented, they took it all in their professional stride......

 The Famedio ~ Hall of Fame ~ Main Entrance of Milan Monumental Cemetery

Of course we were not there for very long, but that has only strengthened my resolve to return, but for a few days next time. Luckily I did get a few photos that will appear on here very soon.

A day or so later on another day trip to St. Moritz, as we passed through a village outside Chiavenna, Sam and Mark announced that we would stop for a break at a waterfall and for those who might be interested, there was a small pretty Cemetery in front of it......... 

And sure enough there was.......

So this post is dedicated to the hard work and safe driving of Mark and Sam, who looked after our every needs and made our Christmas trip to Italy such a memorable one and also for sounding like they would be delighted at being mentioned on this Blog. xx

Silent Sunday Cemetery Scapes ~ San Michele, Venice, Italy

  

Monday Mourning ~ Grieving Ladies of Venice

The Grieving Ladies of Venice

San Michele, Italy

Island Cemetery of San Michele, Venice Italy

San Michele is in the lagoon close to Venice and has been the city's cemetery ~ Cimitero ~ since the early nineteenth century. As Venice is an island community, it's not really surprising that its cemetery is also an island of it's very own.

Venetian graves abound with floral tributes and make one of the most colourful cemeteries to be seen. Families make special pilgrimages to these graveyards, heading there en masse on the 1st and 2nd November to lay flowers. In Italy the chrysanthemum is the flower for the dead, thereby making them an unsuitable gift for the living. On these days there are special additional ferry services to the cemetery.

There are two churches on the island, the large San Michele and the smaller San Cristoforo. San Michele was designed by Mauro Codussi in the 1460s and was one of the earliest Renaissance churches in Venice, with a white facade of Istrian marble overlooking the lagoon.

  

The cemetery is divided up into many sections with the usual divide of Catholic and Protestant interments. One such area is given over to the humble memorials of nuns and the sometimes less humble graves of priests. 

There is also a section for gondoliers and the makers of the boats themselves.
It is tradition, that the widows of Gondoliers who die, inherit their husbands Gondolier licence.

Against the far wall you will find the tombs of Sergei Diaghilev, founder of the Ballet Russe and Igor Stravinsky the composer of 'The Firebird', whose resting places are festooned with the offerings from ballet and music lovers. 

Diaghilev and Stravinsky 1921

Other graves of exiles in Venice include Russian Princesses and Counts and the expatriate American poet Ezra Pound whose plot resembles a flowerbed.

Space is limited on the island, although an enlargement is under way, and burials are squeezed in tightly. Nowadays dead Venetians are only guaranteed a few years of rest on San Michele. After a period of around ten years, remains are exhumed and stored in an ossuary. Discreet noticeboards around the entrance list the timetable for exhumations.

San Michele is off the northern shore of Venice, and can be distinguished by its high walls and cypresses. The island is on the route of the regular vaporetto services 41 and 42 to Murano, the stop is called Cimitero.