October 19 Free guided tour of the cemetery of Jumilla

The 19th century mausoleums and pantheons are predominantly in the Romantic style

The main cemetery of Jumilla is not only a last resting place for the deceased, but also a site which allows insights into the historical and artistic heritage of the town as well as the values and beliefs of the 19th and 20th centuries.

At the end of October Jumilla joins with the rest of Spain in celebrating All Saints and All Souls and in preparation for this, the tourist information office is offering a free guided tour of the municipal cemetery on October 19, focusing on not only the principal monuments, but also the history behind the individuals buried within them. On this occasion the tour is being the Matavenidmia wine fair over the last weekend of the month.

The tour starts at the entry to the cemetery at 11.00 and is in Spanish, with participation free of charge.  Call the tourist office to book on 968 780237 or 663 300779.

Don't be embarrassed about joining in: the locals are proud of their cemetery and the traditions of 1st November, many of them enjoying a picnic during their annual visit, and as long as you are discreet you are not in their way at all! 

Call the tourist office to book on 968 780237 or 663 300779, or book online here.

The current burial ground of Jumilla was inaugurated in 1875, and almost as soon as the cemetery was opened it began to be filled with the extravagant and sumptuous mausoleums and pantheons we can still see today, reflecting the prosperity of the late 19th century which was brought about by the thriving esparto grass industry and the survival of the Monastrell vines which were decimated elsewhere in Europe by the phylloxera pest: this led to a huge increase in wine production and exporting, and was the basis of the wine industry which forms the backbone of the local economy today.

Among the most remarkable 19th century pantheons are those of the Barón del Solar, an octagonal structure with a dome, and Francisco Pérez de los Cobos, which has an eclectic medieval composition. Equally noteworthy is the obelisk of the Tomás family, which boasts rich iconography including a sand clock and a skull with two tibias alongside. A more modernist approach can be seen in the tomb of José María Bernal and Catalina Jiménez, which is adorned with the sculpture of an angel.

The cemetery is located out of town, on the other side of the hill on which the castle stands, reflecting the same concern over the spread of disease and pestilence which led to the construction of the Arco de San Roque.

For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Jumilla Today.