Deià cemetery

Deià cemetery is one of the most distinctive spots in this mountain village on Mallorca, set just behind the parish church of Sant Joan Baptista, at the top of the Puig de Deià hill. Records of the burial ground date back to the early 17th century, and its position — overlooking the coastline and the Deià valley — makes it one of the places most frequently visited by travellers passing through this small town in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains.

What does the cemetery in Deià look like?

Unlike typical, formally laid-out cemeteries, the burial ground in Deià feels naturally woven into the landscape. Graves blend with the vegetation — flowers, Mediterranean herbs and characteristic cypress trees — to the point that visitors often forget they are walking through a cemetery at all. It is precisely this harmony between the tombstones and the surrounding nature that gives the place its distinctive atmosphere.

How do you reach the cemetery?

Access is via a stone, cobbled path lined with cypresses. Along the way, small shrines depicting scenes from the Way of the Cross can be seen — a feature typical of traditional Mediterranean burial grounds attached to Catholic churches. The short climb up the hill is rewarded by the view from the top: the panorama over the coast and the Deià valley is considered one of the finest in the area.

Who is buried at the Deià cemetery?

Alongside hundreds of anonymous villagers who, over the centuries, chose Deià as both their home and their final resting place, the cemetery holds the graves of several notable intellectuals and artists connected to this part of Mallorca. The most recognisable is the British writer and poet Robert Graves (1895–1985), author of "I, Claudius", who settled in Deià in 1929 on the advice of Gertrude Stein and lived in the village — apart from the war years — until his death in 1985. His simple, understated grave, set beneath a large cypress tree right next to the church, is easy to overlook, which many visitors find fitting given the modest way he lived out his later decades. Buried near Graves are also the Majorcan painters Antoni Gelabert and Antoni Ribas Prats.

Why did this place become so well known?

From the early 20th century, Deià drew writers, artists and musicians seeking quiet away from larger cities — partly thanks to Graves himself, whose presence put the village on the map of international literary circles. Today the cemetery stands as a symbolic meeting point between that artistic history and the village's own centuries-old local tradition.

The church of Sant Joan Baptista next to the cemetery

The parish church beside which the cemetery lies was built in the 14th century and rebuilt in the 18th century after being damaged by fire. A notable feature of the building is an adjoining defence tower, which has served as the bell tower since the 16th century — a reminder of the threats coastal villages of Mallorca once faced from raids.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the cemetery free? Yes, the site is open to the public and can be visited free of charge, provided visitors respect the peace of the place.

How long does a visit take? A short walk through the cemetery and taking in the views usually takes about 15–20 minutes, though many visitors linger longer for the panorama.

Is it worth combining the visit with other sights in Deià? Yes — the cemetery sits right next to the parish church, and the Robert Graves house-museum is also nearby, making it easy to combine both into a single themed route exploring the village's history.