Resting place of some of the most important people in history, like the poets Shelley and Keats, Goethe’s son and many more that we’ll explore as we go on, the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome is definitely a must-see.
It’s located in Rione Testaccio and because of this, it’s also known as the cemetery of Testaccio or the cemetery of artists and poets.
Let’s find out why this cemetery is non-catholic and the reasons you should not miss it if you are visiting Rome!
Some History
The Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome was built in 1716 and officially opened in 1821, becoming the most ancient burial ground in Europe. It was created because the Catholic Church had forbidden the burial of non-Catholics in consecrated lands. Since at the time, there were a lot of protestants, orthodox and Jews, they had to build a whole unconsecrated land so that they could be buried. People of other religions were not the only ones that didn’t have access to cemeteries located on Catholic Lands, actors and people who died by taking their own lives also were buried in this cemetery because they were no longer considered part of the Catholic community.
Because of the idea that these people were worth less, their burial would only take place at night, to avoid the triggering of Catholics and manifestations of religious fanaticism.
Some of the gravestones you can find in the cemetery
As mentioned before, the Non-Catholic Cemetery, also known as Cimitero Acattolico in Italian, is the resting place of a lot of very important people, mainly poets and artists that had different religions. Let’s find out some of the names you will be able to find whilst taking a walk through these gravestones:
- JOHN KEATS: The infamous English poet John Keats died in Rome at around 11:00 PM on the 23rd of February because of tuberculosis. His gravestone reports that he died on the 24th though and that’s because at the time, in Rome, it was believed that the new day started when the Church bells played the Ave Maria, half an hour after the sunset.
- PERCY SHELLEY: Another important English poet, Percy Shelley was buried in this cemetery when he died in 1822 in Rome by drowning.
- WILLIAM WETMORE STORY: the famous US sculptor William Wetmore Story rests in this cemetery alongside his wife and son. Amongst his gravestone, you will be able to find a sculpture that he made for the death of his wife that was completed just a little before his death.
- ELISABETH WEGENER-PASSARGE: Girlfriend of the famous German sculptor Ferdinand Seeboeck, Elisabeth Wegener-Passarge died at only 18 years old by falling into the Tiber. On her gravestone, there’s a statue made by Ferdinand Seeboeck that represents her sleeping. It’s believed that by making a wish and leaving a flower for her, your desire will come true!
Italian People
Contrary to popular belief, in this cemetery, there are not only people of other religions and nationalities. A lot of Italians are also buried in the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome. The reason for their burial in this place is usually that their culture and lifestyle, mainly for artists and poets that would proudly showcase their differences through their art, didn’t match the Italian lifestyle, making them sort of strangers in their own land. Let’s find out some of their names:
- ANTONIO GRAMSCI;
- EMILIO LUSSU;
- DARIO BELLEZZA;
- CARLO EMILIO GADDA;
- SIMONETTA COLONNA DI CESARÒ;
- LUCE D’ERAMO;
Conclusion
Taking a walk through the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome surely is an emotional experience. Discovering their art and poetry is a crucial element of making the most out of this trip. If you want to get to know more about the city of Rome, check out our blogs and book a private tour with us!
