Cementerio de Bilbao

Cementerio de Bilbao is the city's main cemetery, though despite its name it doesn't actually sit within Bilbao itself — it lies on the border between the municipalities of Derio and Zamudio, close to the small settlement of Galbarriatu. It's also known as Cementerio de Vista Alegre, or simply the Derio cemetery. Spanning more than 208,000 square meters, it has received an estimated 400,000 burials since it opened, making it one of the largest cemeteries in the Basque Country.

How did this cemetery come about?

During the second half of the 19th century Bilbao underwent rapid industrial and demographic growth, and its existing municipal cemeteries quickly became too small. The first initiatives to build a new burial ground date back to October 6, 1887, though the cemetery itself wasn't inaugurated until April 27, 1902. The city chose land straddling Zamudio and Derio, away from the dense urban core, which allowed for a spacious, park-like layout.

Who designed it?

The project was started by architect Edesio de Garamendi. After his death, his assistant Enrique de Epalza completed the work. Their design produced an imposing main entrance formed by a porticoed gallery and a chapel with clear Romanesque inspiration. The oldest, central section of the cemetery follows a Latin-cross plan, organized around two main avenues that act as axes for the principal chapels and burial plots.

What kind of architecture is on display?

The cemetery functions as far more than a burial ground — it's effectively an open-air gallery of funerary sculpture and architecture from the turn of the 20th century. Family chapels and tombs are dominated by eclectic and neoclassical styles, reflecting the wealth of Bilbao's leading families during the city's industrial golden age. Among the most notable structures are the pantheon of Doña Casilda Iturrizar and the chapel of the Ybarra family, one of the region's most influential industrial dynasties.

Who is buried here?

The cemetery holds the graves of many figures who shaped Bilbao's history and culture. Doña Casilda Iturrizar, after whom the city's popular "Parque de los Patos" is named, rests here alongside her husband Tomás de Epalza. Other notable graves include those of Tomás Meabe, politician Indalecio Prieto, poet Gabriel Aresti, and legendary Athletic Bilbao footballer Rafael Moreno Aranzadi, known as Pichichi — the namesake of the trophy awarded to Spanish La Liga's top scorer each season.

Is it worth visiting as a tourist?

Yes — Cementerio de Bilbao has long served as a destination for cultural and heritage tours around Biscay, including as a stop on local routes connected to the Camino de Santiago. Guided walks and themed, sometimes theatrical, tours are organized here, with guides recounting the city's history through the lives of the bilbaínos buried on its grounds. Its sweeping avenues, greenery, and sculpted pantheons have earned it a reputation as being simultaneously a park, a museum, and a living chronicle of Bilbao's past.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Cementerio de Bilbao located? On the border between the municipalities of Derio and Zamudio, near Galbarriatu, a few kilometers from downtown Bilbao.

When was the cemetery built? It opened on April 27, 1902, although efforts to build it began as early as 1887.

Who designed the cemetery? Architects Edesio de Garamendi and Enrique de Epalza, responsible for the main gate's gallery and Romanesque-style chapel.

Which notable people are buried there? Among others, Casilda Iturrizar, Indalecio Prieto, Gabriel Aresti, and footballer Pichichi.