old cemetery of Argentona

The old cemetery of Argentona is a 19th-century burial ground set on the slope of Sant Sebastià hill, east of the town centre in Catalonia's Maresme region. Though the surrounding hillside has since been largely built up with housing, the cemetery still reads as a self-contained, quiet enclave within the modern town, and it holds official recognition as a Bé Cultural d'Interès Local — a cultural asset of local significance in Catalonia's heritage registry.

How did the cemetery come to be here?

The land was donated to the town by Joaquim Noguer of Can Calopa. The chosen spot was deliberately elevated and well-ventilated, reflecting 19th-century sanitary thinking that placed cemeteries away from residential density while keeping them airy and accessible. Sant Sebastià hill offered both: enough distance from daily town life, yet close enough that funeral processions did not require a long trek.

What does the layout look like?

The cemetery forms a walled, rectangular enclosure running north to south. Two internal blocks of graves split the interior into three walking lanes. At the far end of the central lane, set against the southern wall, stands a chapel — the natural focal point for anyone walking in through the main entrance.

That entrance itself is marked by a wrought-iron gate bearing the date 1853, flanked by stone pillars. The ironwork above the gate carries imagery associated with death, a common visual language in 19th-century funerary design that is unmistakable up close.

What can visitors see inside?

Inside the walls are both individual grave plots (illetes) and family pantheons. Several tombs are decorated with relief carvings, including one depicting the resurrection of Christ drawn from New Testament accounts. Some gravestones also carry ceramic tiles inscribed with Catalan sayings written in pre-normative spelling — a detail suggesting that certain decorative elements predate the cemetery's current 19th-century structure.

Is the cemetery still in use?

Yes. The site remains active and is currently managed by Serveis Funeraris Cabré Junqueras, a funeral services operator active across the Maresme region. Even as new residential development has spread across Sant Sebastià hill, the cemetery has kept its identity as a distinct, walled space — the contrast between its historic funerary architecture and the surrounding modern town is part of what draws visitors interested in local history and cemetery architecture.

Frequently asked questions

When was the old cemetery of Argentona built? The entrance gate is dated 1853, and the cemetery as a whole dates from the 19th century, built on land donated by Joaquim Noguer of Can Calopa.

Is this the only cemetery in Argentona? No — alongside the old cemetery (Cementiri Vell), the town also has a newer one, Cementiri Nou, built later to complement the original site.

Is the cemetery legally protected? Yes, it is listed in Catalonia's cultural heritage registry as a Bé Cultural d'Interès Local, which protects it from alterations that would compromise its historic character.

What is the most notable architectural feature? The wrought-iron entrance gate from 1853, decorated with death-related imagery, along with the chapel that closes off the main central pathway.