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All Brazil Rio de Janeiro Cemitério São João Batista

Cemitério São João Batista

Try not to get lost in this picturesque Brazilian labyrinth of the dead.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Added By
Henrik Johansson
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A maze of graves.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
A maze of graves.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Mausoleums for some of the more well-knows persons buried at the cemetery.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
A favela can be seen on the hillside right next to the cemetery.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
The grave of Ney Antão Mariense Soares.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Statues everywhere.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Statues everywhere.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Chirst the Redeemer inback drop   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
One of my favorite graves I have ever seen.   The Bearded Vagabond / Atlas Obscura User
Another beautiful statue. You could easily spend hours here on a cloudy day.   The Bearded Vagabond / Atlas Obscura User
Christ the Redeemer can be seen from most areas of the cemetery giving you the chance for some incredible shots.   Hetaira Thais / Atlas Obscura User
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About

This cemetery, the only one in south of Rio de Janeiro, forms a formidable maze full of graves, mausoleums and statues.

Dating back to 1852, Cemitério São João Batista shows a great variety of architectural and artistic styles. Neoclassical, eclectic, neo-gothic, and art-deco all come together in the 45 acres the cemetery occupies. Famous Brazilian presidents, entertainers, musicians (including Antonio Carlos Jobim!), sportsmen, and servicemen can all be found buried here. The hundreds, if not thousands of graves are placed close together between the pathways, creating a veritable maze to explore and get lost in.

Among the many famous and intriguing persons buried in the labyrinth of the dead is Geraldo Ribeiro, the driver of the former Brazilian president Juscelino Kubitschek. There are rumors, however, that his body was mistaken for that of the ex-president himself since their coffins were identical, veiled together, and there was no way of telling them apart. Officially the ex-president is buried at the JK Memorial in Brasilia but that might very well be his driver forever resting there. As the families of the two dead never showed any interest in investigating the possibility of the deceased being mistaken for each other the doubts still remain.

This is just one of many interesting tales surrounding the interesting lives enshrined in Cemitério São João Batista's sprawling necropolis. The only trick is finding them.  

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Cemeteries Graveyards

Community Contributors

Added By

hrnick

Edited By

Martin, Hetaira Thais, ski queen, The Bearded Vagabond

  • Martin
  • Hetaira Thais
  • ski queen
  • The Bearded Vagabond

Published

January 22, 2015

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemit%C3%A9rio_S%C3%A3o_Jo%C3%A3o_Batista
  • http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemitério_de_São_João_Batista_(Rio_de_Janeiro)
  • http://www.cemiteriosaojoaobatista.com.br/
Cemitério São João Batista
Rua General Polidoro South
Rio de Janeiro, 22280-002
Brazil
-22.959302, -43.188486
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

Places 16
Stories 8

Nearby Places

Parque Lage

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

miles away

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miles away

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

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Stories 8

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