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All the United States Puerto Rico San Juan Old San Juan Cemetery

Old San Juan Cemetery

This bleach-white graveyard overlooking the ocean is accessed through a tunnel.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Added By
Brenna Seifried
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The bleach-white cemetery.   Peter Phipp/Travelshots.com / Alamy
The bleach-white cemetery.   Peter Phipp/Travelshots.com / Alamy
The cemetery is located outside the walls of El Morro.   vxla
The oceanside cemetery.   Mattnbaker
Looking toward El Morro in the distance.   bRoaming / Atlas Obscura User
The cemetery.   bRoaming / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful white tombs.   bRoaming / Atlas Obscura User
View from the chapel.   bRoaming / Atlas Obscura User
Sunflowers in the Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery in Old San Juan   Blessing.Tate
Dome with a view   Respectful Restoration / Atlas Obscura User
  buffycaine99 / Atlas Obscura User
The cemetery   CDVV86 / Atlas Obscura User
Bury me timbers   mrstinariggs / Atlas Obscura User
  shuchitapoddar / Atlas Obscura User
  The25th / Atlas Obscura User
  The25th / Atlas Obscura User
  bdurance / Atlas Obscura User
  Antahny / Atlas Obscura User
  Antahny / Atlas Obscura User
Overlooking the cemetery.   bRoaming / Atlas Obscura User
Old warehouse inside the cemetery.   bRoaming / Atlas Obscura User
Looking toward La Perla from the cemetery.   bRoaming / Atlas Obscura User
  bdurance / Atlas Obscura User
Flags flying.   Respectful Restoration / Atlas Obscura User
  Devin San Luis / Atlas Obscura User
  buffycaine99 / Atlas Obscura User
One blustery December morn   mocchiatto / Atlas Obscura User
  bdurance / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Built overlooking the ocean in Old San Juan, this beautiful cemetery is located amid two of the island's busiest attractions, the El Morro fort and Castillo San Cristóbal. The cemetery itself is often photographed but not frequently visited; it lies close to the infamous neighborhood of La Perla, and is reached by way of a tunnel leading to the main gate. 

Once you are in the cemetery, step carefully as the gravestones have been placed very close to each other, especially as you approach the ocean. In places, you'll need to walk single file. Some tombs are in worse conditions than others, but the white stone is beautiful throughout the cemetery.

The Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, known simply to locals as the Old San Juan Cemetery, was officially established in the late 1800s and is the burial site of some of Puerto Rico's most famous citizens. From inside the cemetery, there's a great view of El Morro to one side, and La Perla to the other. Facing toward the island, you look upwards at the colorful houses of Old San Juan. 

In the center of the grounds is a small chapel, where you can get an elevated view of the nearby tombs, enjoy some shade, and feel the ocean breezes. Between the blue of the sky, the white of the stones, and the green foliage growing on some of the walls, it's a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. 

Related Tags

Cemeteries Graveyards Tunnels Subterranean Sites

Know Before You Go

Visit during the day when the cemetery attendant is on duty and the gates are open. The area is generally safe, as it's a frequently patrolled tourist area, but use common sense and don't visit at night.

Community Contributors

Added By

bRoaming

Edited By

buffycaine99, Meg, The25th, CDVV86...

  • buffycaine99
  • Meg
  • The25th
  • CDVV86
  • Respectful Restoration
  • Atak
  • mocchiatto
  • Devin San Luis
  • Antahny
  • heidicgobble
  • mrstinariggs
  • bdurance
  • shuchitapoddar

Published

June 26, 2018

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Sources
  • https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1662828
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Mar%C3%ADa_Magdalena_de_Pazzis_Cemetery
  • https://sanjuanpuertorico.com/santa-maria-magdalena-de-pazzis-cemetery/
Old San Juan Cemetery
Calle Cementerio
San Juan, Puerto Rico
United States
18.469984, -66.119756
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