Avilés: Guided tour of the La Carriona cemetery
Asturias
The only cemetery in Asturias within the European Cemetery Route. Discover its monumental pantheons, marble sculptures and the history of the bourgeois and indiano Avilés of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Guided Tour of the Municipal Cemetery of La Carriona in Avilés
This guided tour explores the Municipal Cemetery of La Carriona in Avilés, ideal for history, art, and cultural heritage enthusiasts.
Highlights
- Visit the pantheon of the Marquises of San Juan de Nieva
- Learn about historical memory and the cemetery’s role in the Spanish Civil War
- Experience the monumentality of the cemetery’s architecture and sculpture
Description
The Municipal Cemetery of La Carriona, designed by architect Ricardo Marcos Bausá in the late 19th century, is the largest open-air museum in Avilés. Funded by the region’s bourgeoisie and emigrants, it represents an important part of the city’s architectural, sculptural, and urban heritage, often described as a “city of the dead.”
During the tour, visitors walk along the main and side streets while learning about Avilés’ art, history, and memory through its pantheons and notable residents. The cemetery houses the remains of figures such as writer Armando Palacio Valdés, poets Marcos del Torniello and Ana de Valle, and musician Julián Orbón. It also contains memorials to local sports figures like athlete Yago Lamela and footballers Jesús and Enrique “Quini” Castro.
Part of the European Cemeteries Route and the European Association of Significant Cemeteries, La Carriona features works in styles ranging from eclecticism and historicism to rationalism and modernism. Artists represented include Manuel del Busto, Tomás Acha Zulaica, Armando Fernández Cueto, Ángel Arias Falcón, and Cipriano Folgueras Doiztúa. Doiztúa’s 1902 sculpture for the pantheon of the Marquises of San Juan de Nieva received the best Spanish funerary sculpture award from Adiós Cultural magazine in 2015.
Includes
- Certified Spanish-speaking guide
Cancellation Policy
Cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund.
Book in advance to secure your place. Comfortable shoes are recommended for walking through the cemetery’s streets. The best time to visit is during daylight hours for full appreciation of the sculptures and architecture.
