What is a cimitero monumentale?
As you might imagine, notable funerary monuments highlight a monumental cemetery. Just steps away (literally) from that Lombard architectural splendor, the Basilica di San Salvatore, Spoleto’s mid-19th-cebtury cimitero monumentale merits a stroll.
Designed by Spoleto architect Ireneo Aleandri, the cemetery respects his neoclassical style and seems to be stupendous theatrical scenography to highlight the Basilica up the steps from the cemetery:
In front of the Basilica di San Salvatore, steps lead down into the splendor of the cemetery :
Towering cypress trees, pines and firs shade the walkways and the tombs:
You’ll see every imaginable architectural style housing family tombs, many of them of erudite spoletini:
Among the most splendid of the monumental tombs are those of the Antonelli family with a sculpted 16th-century altar:
The Sansi family tomb as well is finely sculpted…
…as is the family tomb of the Counts of Campello where marble columns sustained finely-sculpted capitals;
Under the loggiati, the tombs are separated from each other by paraste (delimiting pilasters), each different from the others in decoration and ornamentation – and of course in the family coats-of-arms:
As you walk through this cemetery, do also note the metal vigil lamps hanging before the tombs, of a variety of designs, each one an artwork intself:
On one side of the cemetery, you’ll see Spoleto rooftops and church belltowers backdropping the tombs:
I learned after my wanders there that noted Spoleto archaeologist, Giuseppe Sordini – who discovered the Roman house and promoted excavation of the Roman theater – is buried in that cemetery.
I was sorry not to have come across his tomb.
I would have liked to pay tribute to the perso who has so enriched my appreciation of Spoleto.
Read about the fascinating Romanesque church not far from the cemetery.
Read about that splendid Spoleto basilica of Lombard architecture, UNESCO World Heritage site – and bordering the cemetery.
Click here to read about another UNESCO World Heritage splendor of Spoleto
View the splendor of the teatro and Museo in this video
Click here to read about – and see -a Spoleto church enhanced with Roman remnants
Read about the treasures in Spoleto’s Museo Diocesano
Click here to read about the splendid Spoleto cathedral
Read about – and see – Spoleto’s splendid Church of Sant’ Eufemia
Read about – and see! – the splendor of Spoleto’s historic library
Read here about Spoleto’s Roman house
Click here to read about – and see!- Spoleto’s 14th-c. Papal fortress
Read about one of Umbria’s most splendid medieval churches – in Spoleto
so beautiful