Museo Cementerio San Pedro

Cementerio San Pedro was born in 1842 as Medellín's first private cemetery and took the name San Pedro in 1871. On October 29, 1998, it was recognized as a site museum, the first cemetery in Latin America to receive that recognition, and in 1999 it was declared a national cultural heritage site.

Many of the mausoleums and sculptures are made of Carrara marble, brought from Pietrasanta, Italy. It holds the graves of Jorge Isaacs, author of María, writer Tomás Carrasquilla and former president Carlos E. Restrepo, among others. There's also a cenotaph for Carlos Gardel, whose body spent six months in the cemetery after his death in 1935.

The chapel dates from 1929, with a carved wooden altar and stained glass. The museum runs guided tours on Sundays and, roughly every two months, the 'Atardeceres en el Cementerio' (Sunsets at the Cemetery, formerly Full Moon Nights), with extended hours and performances.

What to see

• The Carrara marble mausoleums and sculptures.
• The graves of Jorge Isaacs and Tomás Carrasquilla.
• The Carlos Gardel cenotaph.
• The 1929 chapel.

Getting there

• Metro: Hospital station (Line A), about 300 meters away.

Tips

• Go on a Sunday if you want a guided tour.
• Ask about the date of the next Atardeceres en el Cementerio.
• Be respectful of funeral services: the cemetery is still in use.