Cemeteries as gardens

Cemeteries are often overlooked as green spaces, yet, in many ways, they are gardens in their own right—places where nature, memory, and culture intertwine. Landscaped with care, shaped by history, and rich in symbolism, cemeteries form serene environments for reflection, remembrance, and discovery.

In this context, we are pleased to forward the invitation from APGI - Associazione Parchi e Giardini d'Italia to participate in the "Appuntamento in Giardino" initiative (English: Appointment in the Garden), which this year beautifully aligns with the ASCE Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, both in theme and timing.

About the "Appuntamento in Giardino" initiative

Designed as a garden celebration, the event invites the general public to rediscover Italy’s gardens as living cultural heritage through a variety of events and activities. Participation is open to all gardens, whether historic or contemporary, that have historical, artistic, landscape, or botanical significance.

Held in collaboration with Rendez-vous aux Jardins, this initiative will take place simultaneously in numerous European countries.

For more information about the initiative, click HERE or visit the website www.apgi.it.

Theme: Gardens of stones, stones of the garden

Year after year, the chosen theme invites the public to rediscover the universe of the garden through a new perspective. This year’s theme for the "Appuntamento in Giardino" initiative is Gardens of Stones, Stones of the Garden.

Please note that aligning with the proposed theme is not mandatory for the design of proposed activities. You can animate the days with a wide variety of events, including guided tours, conferences, meetings with owners, gardeners, and botanists, gardening lessons, workshops for children, demonstrations, concerts, performances, exhibitions, tastings, night openings, and more.

How to participate

Each garden can choose one or more days to participate in the initiative (Saturday, 7 June; Sunday, 8 June; or both days).

Registrations will be open until the 1st of May 2025. You can sign up your garden HERE.

For any questions, please contact appuntamentoingiardino@apgi.it.

Event date and locations

This year's AGM and Conference will take place from 4 to 6 September 2025 in Dresden, Germany.

The event will take place in the Kulturrathaus – a cultural center located at Königstraße 15, 01097 Dresden, Germany.

Conference theme

This year ASCE’s annual conference will focus on the theme "Future through Remembrance". Against the background of the end of World War II we want to focus on communication and interaction. You can find all the details HERE.

Accommodation suggestions

Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation for the AGM. To make this process as easy as possible, we have prepared a list of recommended hotels near the event venue. The list is available at the link below, where you can also make your reservation.

Nonetheless, staying at one of these hotels is not required. You are free to use booking platforms to find other accommodation options that better suit your needs.

➤ MAKE YOUR RESERVATION

Conference theme: Future through Remembrance

This year ASCE’s annual conference will focus on the theme "Future through Remembrance", a challenging subject for all the participants in the cemetery's heritage field. Against the background of the end of World War II we want to focus on communication and interaction.

• Get started transforming stories from your cemetery.
• Get your cemetery story told.
• Use IT and social media.
• Not get lost in your cemetery story archive.
• Find partners for your storytelling project.
• Finance your cemetery art or film project.
• Be strong in realizing your cemetery story project against all odds.

For more information about the content and about proposed ideas for the authors please find attached the link to a project on the victims of violence and war in Dresden’s cemeteries that has just been published by rhetorical City of Dresden: https://www.dresdner-friedhoefe.de.

Conference dates and location

The Conference will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 5-6, 2025, in Dresden, Germany.
The venue and event program will be released in the following weeks.

Proposals

Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words summarising your intended paper no later than Monday, May 5, 2025, by using the following form.

FORM FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS

Accepted authors will be notified by June 15, 2025.

Conference papers

Presentations should last no longer than 15 minutes, excluding questions.

We are seeking speakers with practical knowledge or experience who can communicate interesting and diverse presentations to the international audience.

The conference language is English. 

Editorial board

• Prof. Thomas Kübler, phd
• Ian Dungavell, phd
• Andreea Pop, phd
• Ioanna Paraskevopoulou, phd

Further information

For any questions, please contact Andreea Pop at andreea@significantcemeteries.org.

The Feriköy Protestant Cemetery Initiative has updated its website with fresh content about the cemetery and the Initiative’s efforts to preserve and promote it for more than half a decade. Besides presenting six years of activities and outreach, the site contains publications and other resources about the cemetery. 

Included among the items is the latest edition of the Initiative’s bulletin, The Ledger, published in December 2024. Entering its fifth year in 2025, the bulletin not only reports current happenings but also features articles about the cemetery's inhabitants and history, highlighting new information as it comes to light.

Inquiries about the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery Initiative and its projects can be sent to info@ferikoycemetery.org. Correspondence about The Ledger can be addressed to the editor bdjohnson62@gmail.com.

About the book

The book "Cementerios y migraciones: Memorias, espacios funerarios y otras historias de la provincia de Buenos Aires" by Celeste Castiglione delves into the history of migration in the province of Buenos Aires by examining the experience of death far from one’s homeland. 

Through the lens of cemeteries, she explores these spaces as unique sites where memory, identity, and cultural influences converge. These burial grounds serve as witnesses to social dynamics, revealing patterns, ruptures, and continuities that shape collective history.

Find out more at www.edunpaz.unpaz.edu.ar

About the book

We are pleased to announce the publication of a comprehensive new work, Florence's English Cemetery, 1827-1877: Thunders of White Silence, by Julia Bolton Holloway, the custodian of the English Cemetery in Florence for over two decades.

This 927-page volume, with a 53-page index, meticulously catalogs all existing and lost tombs of the English Cemetery in Florence (which is part of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe), drawing from extensive archival records. The final chapter details the restoration of the cemetery and its beautiful iris garden—Florence's lily—a project carried out by Romanian Roma in Florence, who were taught literacy skills and the art of incising inscriptions on marble.

Book purchase

The book is available through Cambridge University Press, with a 25% discount for registered users. All royalties from the book will support the ongoing preservation of the cemetery.

About the event

The Accademia delle Arti del Disegno (Via Orsanmichele 4, 50123 Firenze, Italy) will host the XIth City and Book International Conference on Saturday, 26 April 2025.

The event will be conducted both in person and via Zoom, ensuring accessibility for a global audience.

Call for papers

For more information, including guidelines for presentation submissions and registration details, please contact Julia Bolton Holloway, president of the Aureo Anello Association, at juliananchoress@gmail.com.

As customary, the proceedings will be published on the Aureo Anello Association website.

A collection of presentations

"Cimiteri e dintorni. Uno spazio di dialogo tra generazioni" is a newly published book, developed through the collaboration of ASCE members from Turin and the University of Turin.

The book was created following the international conference "Around Cemeteries: a space of dialogue across generations and cultures," which was held in Turin on May 30 and 31, 2023. The conference brought together scholars, professionals, and researchers from various fields to discuss cemeteries as places of cultural exchange, historical reflection, and intergenerational dialogue. The presentations from this event have now been compiled into this volume, offering valuable insights into the role of cemeteries in our societies.

Contents of the book

Cimiteri e dintorni explores cemeteries not just as places of remembrance but also as spaces that foster dialogue between generations and cultures. It examines how cemeteries can serve as educational tools, heritage sites, and venues for public engagement. By addressing topics such as memory, identity, artistic expression, and social transformation, the book provides a comprehensive perspective on the significance of cemeteries in contemporary society.

Book purchase

The book was edited by Esterino Adami, Antonella Amatuzzi, and Laura Ramello and published by Neos Edizioni. It is available in Italian and can be purchased on Amazon Italy.

About the event

On the 23rd of May 2025, the 26th Cemeteries Colloquium will take place as a live meeting in York, United Kingdom.

The Colloquium, organized by the Cemetery Research Group (CRG), has developed into an essential forum for the discussion of new and emerging cemetery scholarship and is multi-disciplinary, accepting papers from across the humanities and social sciences. The event has a strong emphasis on discussion, and its international and interdisciplinary nature makes the meeting particularly thought-provoking.

Call for papers

Anyone who would like to participate is invited to submit their presentation abstract of no more than 250 words by using the submission portal at the Cemetery Research Group website.

The deadline for abstract submission is 2nd May 2025.

For any additional questions please contact Dr Julie Rugg at julie.rugg@york.ac.uk.

Note: In addition to the in-person meeting in May, the Cemetery Research Group will also host a second, entirely online event in November. A separate call for papers for this event will be issued later this year.

Updates and publications

The Cemetery Research Group bibliography has been updated with new material from 2024, including additional references to older sources.

Routledge has also released the latest edition in the Routledge International Focus on Death and Funeral Practices series. Listen to Hannah Gould discuss Death and Funeral Practices in Japan on the New Books Network podcast.

*Photo source: www.cemeteryresearch.org

About the AGM and Conference

Each year, the Annual General Meeting attracts over 100 cemetery academics, artists and professionals from all over Europe. It generates a lot of public attention and through the conference helps expose important topics on cemetery's history, art, architecture, cultural heritage, sustainability, management, and future trends.

AGM 2025 in Dresden

After 20 years, the ASCE Annual General Meeting and Conference will once again be held in Germany, this time in the historic and vibrant city of Dresden.

Mark your calendars from 4 to 6 September 2025, and join us for an inspiring program filled with engaging discussions, cultural highlights, and meaningful networking opportunities.

A call for papers, as well as all the details about the event program, accommodation, and other logistics, will be released in the coming months, so don't forget to check our website for updates.

We look forward to seeing you in September, at the AGM 2025.

ASCE presidency

Discover Dresden

Dear friends and colleagues, cemetery travellers.

You know how time stops when you visit the cemetery. All the rush of the outside world and conflicting thoughts become distant. Monuments reveal the stories of human love, devotion and dedication to enjoy life together. Cemetery traveller is a peaceful traveller. One that will always be careful about where she walks, what he eats and how she talks. Thoughtful about nature and all living beings. Mindful about the importance of preserving the heritage resting in cemeteries.

This is why we have to keep our initiative of Significant cemeteries for sustainable Europe. That is why in 2025 our focus will be on United nations goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions.

Because humanity needs peace to sustain. More than ever it will be important for all our members and partners to join efforts. Invite people to cemeteries. Let them experience the feelings when time stops. When all the rush of the outside world and conflicting thoughts become distant.

Convince humanity to become cemetery travellers. Preserve and protect the heritage of humanity resting in cemeteries.

The ASCE presidency wishes you peaceful holidays and 2025.

Memorial evening for Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

The "Quo Vadis Fundamentum" initiative, launched in 2022, aims to commemorate remarkable individuals who made significant contributions to humanity through memorial evenings at the Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck.

Following the successful memorial evenings for Edith Stein in 2022 and Charlie Chaplin in 2023, this year's event honored the renowned writer Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach.

The evening attracted many attendees, who were captivated by the performances of actresses Bernadette Abendstein and Petra Knoflach. They brought Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach's words to life through powerful readings of her works. The readings were beautifully enhanced by Michael Cede's flute performance, which created an atmosphere of inspiration and reflection.

Some of Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach's quotes shared during the event included:

• "If everyone would help each other, everyone would be helped."
• "Know, those who preach you hate will not save you."
• "A judgement is easier to refute, a prejudice never."
• "The right of the stronger is the greatest wrong."
• "You can’t inspire the mindless, but you can fantasize them."
• "You have to do good so that it will be in the world."

Photos of the event

*The original text in Croatian can be found HERE.

About the cemetery

Established in 1833 at Quinta de São João, the Alto de São João Cemetery initially served Lisbon's eastern side during a cholera epidemic, before Portugal's 1835 law mandated public cemeteries. Land expropriation was complex, finishing only in 1840, with chapel construction beginning in 1841. Gradually, the cemetery expanded to 22 hectares, mostly for temporary burials. Although private mausoleum demand was initially lower than at Prazeres Cemetery, it surged in the 20th century as Prazeres reached capacity. At the same time, the Alto de São João Cemetery began to be associated with the Republican Movement. 

The construction of the first crematorium in the country began here in 1911, but it was not opened until 1925 due to difficulty in obtaining materials and machinery during the First World War. The crematorium was temporarily closed from 1936 to 1985, with an exception made for Hindu community cemeteries, even during the Estado Novo period. In 1985, the crematorium reopened and remains in use today. In 1941, mass grave burials were abolished, and in 1945, the construction of private tombs was halted, with only a limited number of new tombs built since then.

Landscape and architecture

Originally designed with a central chapel and rectangular layout, Alto de São João saw less demand for 19th-century mausoleums compared to Prazeres Cemetery, but this changed in the 20th century. The cemetery features similar construction styles to Prazeres, including underground tombs with stelae, columns, obelisks, and neo-classic and neo-Gothic chapel mausoleums, along with unique neo-Manueline designs. In the early 20th century, Art Nouveau tombs became common, as did Portuguese House-style mausoleums with tiled facades depicting saints. By the 1930s, Art Deco mausoleums with colored limestone facades and bas-relief figures gained popularity.

The 1940 cemetery regulations formalized a modernist style with minimal ornamentation and monochromatic facades. Before the 1945 halt in construction, the cemetery's mausoleum layouts created “neighbourhoods” reflecting Lisbon’s urban developments. Overall, Alto de São João showcases Lisbon’s architectural evolution, especially through the 20th century.

Historic significance

Lisbon, being the capital of Portugal, concentrates all its major political, administrative and cultural institutions and, consequentially, its most prominent figures. Naturally, its cemeteries are the final resting place for many of them. It was the cemetery chosen by the republican elite as the location for their family mausoleums and commemorative monuments, especially during the First Republic (1910-1926).

In the 1920s, the cemetery established the plot of Combatants of the Great War, later expanded into a monument to honor all Portuguese soldiers.

Burials and cremations of many notable 20th-century Portuguese figures took place here, spanning the Republic, Estado Novo, and Democratic eras. Furthermore, many of the most important Portuguese sculptors, architects and stonemasons have works displayed in this cemetery (specially from the 20th century). Being the largest cemetery in Lisbon, it continues to carry out daily burials in temporary graves and cremations.

Cultural Week in Cemeteries

Started in 2022 at Lisbon cemeteries and later expanded to surrounding areas, the annual Cemetery Cultural Week features guided tours, exhibitions, concerts, book presentations, online lectures, urban sketching, photography workshops, and more. 

At Alto de São João Cemetery, in addition to these activities, a collaboration with Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa allows visitors access to normally closed mausoleums, where they can view sculptures, stained glass windows, photographs, and ceramics. Additionally, a commemorative book is being prepared for 2025 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the country's first crematorium.

About the cemetery

Founded in 1833 around the hermitage of Our Lady of Prazeres, the Prazeres Cemetery was established to serve Lisbon's west side alongside Alto de São João Cemetery. In a period of high mortality generated by a cholera epidemic that led to the interruption of burials in the interior of the churches, this cemetery preceded the law of 1835 that forced the establishment of public cemeteries in Portugal. 

The cemetery’s management was transferred from royal oversight to Lisbon’s City Council (CML) in 1834. Over time, the cemetery expanded southward to meet the high demand for family mausoleums. In 1869, a new chapel replaced the original hermitage. Though Catholic in affiliation, the cemetery maintained a secular policy, allowing civil and evangelical burials. By the 1870s, it included an autopsy room for forensic use, as Lisbon had no city morgue until 1899. Due to the space used for monuments, temporary burials ceased by the 1930s.

Landscape design and architecture

Designed with a pentagonal plan, Prazeres Cemetery initially included temporary graves and underground sepulchres. Influenced by Paris's Père Lachaise Cemetery, the first private mausoleums were built in 1839, decorated with stelae, columns, and obelisks. The Palmela Mausoleum pyramid, built in 1848, became Europe’s largest private mausoleum.

Chapel mausoleums became common in the 1860s, featuring neo-classical, neo-Gothic, and various other historicist styles. In buildings from the beginning of the 20th century we will find Art Nouveau influence - not only in the buildings, but also in their decorations, such as stained glass windows, wrought iron doors, railings, and tiles. At the same time, the Portuguese House mausoleums were being constructed, marked by their roofs made of red clay tiles (or limestone carved in the shape of a tile roof), their porches, shutter doors and corner windows.

The reduction in available space slowed down the construction of mausoleums in the cemetery, but nevertheless, we can also find some modernist mausoleums, with straight lines and almost no ornamentation, contrasting the neoclassical mausoleums of the 19th century. Although mausoleum construction ended in 1945, a few notable contemporary pieces are still present. The cemetery, mostly shaded by dark green cypress trees, reflects an architectural evolution spanning three centuries.

Program

On Friday, November 8, at 8:00 p.m., the Spanish theater company Los Sueños de Fausto performed Flowers of Spain, a theatrical production that explores themes related to Spain’s historical memory, particularly the legacy of the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent Franco dictatorship. The performance took place in the assembly hall of the Sierra de Líjar Institute.

The following day, on Saturday, November 9, at 11:00 a.m., a solemn event was held at the Municipal Cemetery of Olvera to commemorate the Historical Memory and the victims of Franco's repression in the town.

The Olvera City Council thanks everyone who participated in the organised activities and celebrated the Week of Democratic Memory with us.

About the conference

The Hungarian National Heritage Institute, member of ASCE, together with the Duna-Drava National Park Directorate, the HUN-REN BTK Institute of History, the HUN-REN PPKE-PTE Vilmos Fraknói Vatican Historical Research Group, the Janus Pannonius Museum, the Hungarian National Archives, the Hungarian Historical Society, the Municipality of Mohács, the University of Pécs and the University of Szeged, cordially invites you to attend the conference "Antemurale Christianitatis - Central Europe and the Western Balkans, Bastions of Christianity".

The aim of the conference is to present the historical situation at the end of the Middle Ages of the countries closely connected with the history of the Kingdom of Hungary and the struggle against the Ottoman Empire - including the Kingdom of Bohemia and Poland, the Holy Roman Empire and the former states in the present-day territories of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia.

In addition, the organisers aim to create a forum for the presentation of the latest results of Hungarian research in support of the forthcoming commemorative year, with the participation of the international academic community.

Date, location and program

The conference will take place from 8 to 9 December 2024 in the Event Hall of the Várkert Bazár (Ybl Miklós square 2-6., 1013 Budapest, Hungary), from 9.00 to 18.00.

The conference will be bilingual, with Hungarian-English and English-Hungarian interpretation. The official invitation with the event programme is available HERE*.

If you wish to participate, please register on the following platform until 6 December 2024.

➤ SIGN UP FORM

For additional information contact istvan.kovacs@nori.gov.hu or one of the other event organisers.

*Organisers reserve the right to change the programme.