Kozala Cemetery

Kozala Cemetery is the most important necropolis in Rijeka, Croatia, set on a hillside above the city. Walking among its historic gravestones and mausoleums is a way to trace the story of a port city where Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Croatian influences mixed for centuries.

How did Kozala Cemetery begin?

The first plot of land for the cemetery was bought as early as 1771. It officially opened in 1838, and in 1872 it was established as a communal cemetery of public interest. Over the following decades it grew along with the city and became the resting place of many of its most prominent residents.

Who is buried here?

Kozala holds members of the families that shaped Rijeka: industrialists, doctors, merchants and local figures. Names highlighted by the local tourist information include Ciotta, Salcher, Ossoinack, Hajnal, Gorup, Meynier, Venucci, Kersnik and Grossich. Individual entries also exist for Antonio Grossich, Giovanni de Ciotta, Josip Gorup and Giovanni Kobler.

The Whitehead mausoleum

One of the most striking monuments is the grand mausoleum linked to Robert Whitehead, the torpedo pioneer whose factory operated in Rijeka. Whitehead died in England and was never buried in his majestic tomb, yet the Whitehead family remains closely associated with the site.

What is worth seeing?

Many tombs are regarded as notable works of art, so the cemetery is often treated as an open-air gallery of funerary sculpture and architecture. The grounds also include distinct sections:

• Jewish section – it began operating in 1904, although an earlier Jewish cemetery had existed in the Zagrad district since 1840,
• Military section – Commonwealth soldiers of the First World War are buried here; the CWGC records one identified casualty at the site (listed as Kuzala Cemetery).

Heritage protection

Kozala Cemetery received the status of a cultural monument on 10 October 2001. Since 2006 the Kozala and Trsat cemeteries have been permanently protected. The City of Rijeka runs conservation programmes for them, because the tombs and mausoleums are an important record of the region's cultural heritage.

Frequently asked questions

Can tourists visit Kozala Cemetery?

Yes. It is an active municipal cemetery that also welcomes visitors interested in history and art. The usual cemetery etiquette applies: stay quiet and be mindful of people visiting the graves of loved ones.

Why is the cemetery important to Rijeka's history?

It reflects the city's multicultural past. The surnames on the headstones, along with the separate Jewish and military sections, show the variety of communities that built Rijeka.

Is Robert Whitehead buried in his mausoleum?

No. He died in England and was buried there, even though a grand mausoleum was built for him in Rijeka.

Is the cemetery protected?

Yes. It has held cultural monument status since 2001, and since 2006 it has been under permanent protection together with Trsat Cemetery.

Who is it for?

It suits lovers of history, sculpture and cemetery architecture, and anyone who wants to understand old Rijeka through the lives of its people. The cemetery stands on Kozala hill with views over the city, so it is best visited at a quiet time of day.