The name Lloret de Mar is no coincidence. It reflects the deep connection that this town has always had with the Mediterranean Sea. Since its beginnings, Lloret was a key port on the trade routes that crossed the Mediterranean and later became the starting point for expeditions to the Americas.
Already in the 20th century, it was one of the first destinations to recognize the value of its beaches and the unique landscapes of the Costa Brava, and to share them with the world. Today, it receives about 1.5 million visitors annually, consolidating itself as one of the most important tourist destinations in Spain. However, beyond its busy urban beach, its numerous hotels and its lively nightlife, Lloret de Mar hides many surprises. AND one of them is its modernist cemetery, one of the most beautiful that we can visit in our country.
The history of a modernist and Indian cemetery
He modernist cemetery of Lloret de Mar, Inaugurated in 1901, it is one of the greatest exponents of Catalan funerary art, reflecting not only the modernist style, but also the splendor of the Indian families who, after making their fortune in America, returned to Catalonia with the desire to leave a lasting mark.
These wealthy families, known as indianos, invested in pantheons and mausoleums designed by renowned architects, such as Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Bonaventura Conill i Montobbio, in search of a symbol of status and legacy that transcended generations. These architects, pioneers of modernism in funerary architecture, managed to integrate religious and aesthetic symbols in each monument, representing both the power and spirituality of the owners.
The layout of the cemetery, which imitates a small town with streets and mausoleums that look like houses, It gives it a unique atmosphere, evoking a “city of the dead” where each structure and sculpture hides some special symbolism. This arrangement allows the visitor to experience the space as an open-air museum, where art and funerary symbology are displayed in every corner.
The architecture of the cemetery is a complex amalgam of modernist influences, with neogothic and baroque elementsstanding out for its great symbolic load and richness in details. He Costa i Macià Pantheonfor example, designed by Puig i Cadafalch, has the appearance of a medieval chapel with gargoyles, angels and skulls that symbolize the transition between life and death.
Conill i Montobbio, disciple of Gaudí, applied a similar approach to several crypts in the cemetery, such as the Durall i Suris Hypogeum, where the figure of an angel is intertwined with a cross, symbolizing the resurrection. In it Esqueu i Vilallonga Pantheonanother of his complex works, highlights the use of a dragon in a threatening attitude, holding a skull and the tables of the law.
This element, represented under a parabolic arch inspired by Gaudí, alludes to the eternal struggle between good and evil, and the motto inscribed on the cross, “Ego sum vita” (I am life), suggests the promise of eternal life in the face of death and damnation.
How to Visit the Modernist Cemetery of Lloret de Mar
The cemetery is located on Camí del Repòs, near the road to Blanes. Hours vary depending on the season: from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. between November and March, and until 8:00 p.m. from April to October. Admission is free, and it is recommended to walk slowly to appreciate the details of each mausoleum, many of which have explanatory panels in several languages.
There are also some guided tour options, led by art specialists who explore funerary iconography and its symbolism. It is performed in different languages, often at sunset to add a special atmosphere. These visits are available free of charge, but require reservations due to limited places, and can be booked through the Museum of the Sea or on the Museum’s website. Patrimoni Lloret.
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