Campo Ourique: Prazeres Cemetery

Prazeres Cemetery was built in 1833, at the height of the Romantic period, which explains the tree-lined lanes with monumental tombs and mausoleums. Those belong to many of Portugal’s most illustrious families, and over the years they also became the resting places of famous personalities, such as poets and politicians. For some, it may sound like a morbid attraction, but many enjoy admiring the architectural heritage. The cemetery also has the oldest and largest concentration of cypress trees in the Iberian Peninsula, and the largest private mausoleum in Europe. Inspired by Solomon’s Temple, the pyramid-shaped mausoleum (pictured above) was built in 1849 for the Duke of Palmela and his family, and holds several works of art, including a cenotaph by the great Italian sculptor Antonio Canova.