Cemetery of Alicante

The Cemetery of Nuestra Señora del Remedio, also known as La Florida Cemetery, is the main municipal cemetery of Alicante, a port city on Spain's Costa Blanca in the Valencian Community. The site sits in the La Florida district, east of the historic city center, and has served as the city's primary burial ground for nearly a century.

When was the cemetery built?

Construction began in 1918, designed by municipal architect Francisco Fajardo Guardiola. Plans were disrupted almost immediately: that same year, the 1918 flu pandemic (the so-called Spanish flu) swept through Europe and Spain, forcing authorities to use the unfinished grounds for mass burials even before the facility was formally inaugurated. The cemetery officially opened in 1925.

Why did it replace an older cemetery?

Alicante previously relied on a different burial ground, the San Blas cemetery, which eventually could no longer meet the needs of a growing city. In 1931, the municipal cemetery function was transferred to Nuestra Señora del Remedio, and the old San Blas cemetery was closed.

What happened here during the Civil War era?

The most somber chapter in the cemetery's history unfolded after the Spanish Civil War. Between 1939 and 1945, during the period of Francoist repression, the grounds became a site of executions and mass graves. Several communal pits hold the remains of nearly six hundred victims, including mayors, judges, provincial governors, day laborers, teachers, military personnel, and students. Most of these executions took place against the walls of the nearby Rabasa barracks, with the bodies subsequently brought to this cemetery.

How large is the cemetery today?

The Cemetery of Nuestra Señora del Remedio currently covers an area of 223,674 square meters, making it one of the larger cemeteries in the Valencia region. The city has plans for an expansion that would double its current size, reflecting the growing demand for burial space as Alicante continues to expand.

What should visitors know before going?

The cemetery is located at approximately 38.355°N, -0.530°E, in an easily accessible part of the city. Given both its architectural history and its association with the post-war repression period, the site carries significance beyond its practical function — it also holds symbolic weight for the collective memory of the local community. Visitors can see older sections dating back to the 1920s and 1930s alongside newer areas added through subsequent expansions.

Frequently asked questions

When was the cemetery in Alicante built? Construction started in 1918, and it officially opened in 1925.

What is this cemetery called? Its full name is the Cemetery of Nuestra Señora del Remedio, commonly also referred to as La Florida Cemetery, named after the district where it is located.

Which cemetery did it replace? In 1931, it took over as the city's main municipal cemetery after the San Blas cemetery was closed.

How big is the cemetery? It currently spans 223,674 square meters, with an expansion planned that would double this area.