Palafrugell Cemetery

Palafrugell Cemetery is a modest but historically interesting municipal burial ground set on a hill known as Coll de Morena, on the outskirts of the Catalan town of Palafrugell in Girona province. It is not a headline attraction on any typical Costa Brava itinerary, but for travelers curious about local history and funerary architecture, it makes a worthwhile stop, especially when combined with a walk through the older parts of town.

Where did this cemetery come from?

The current site was not the town's first burial ground. An earlier cemetery, located outside the old town walls at a place known as Los Forns (also called La Ruella), had already been established in 1816. Over time it proved inadequate for the growing town, and local authorities began considering a replacement. In 1882 the Palafrugell town council decided to build a new cemetery, but at the same time the local parish priest was pursuing his own separate initiative. It was ultimately the priest's project that succeeded: construction of a cemetery on the Coll de Morena hill began in 1885, and the provincial civil governor authorized its opening — rejecting the competing plan put forward by the town council. This episode is a small but telling example of how a seemingly administrative matter, the siting of a public cemetery, could become a point of contention between civil and religious authorities in 19th-century Catalonia.

What does the cemetery look like?

The cemetery follows a rectangular layout, with its main entrance facing east. The entrance portal is crowned by a curved pediment, flanked by two larger sections of the facade that are themselves topped with sizeable pediments. This kind of symmetrical composition, built around a clearly emphasized, decorative gateway, was typical of cemeteries built in Catalonia in the second half of the 19th century, a period when establishing orderly, modern burial grounds outside town centers had become standard practice for reasons of public health and urban planning.

Who is buried here?

Among those interred at Palafrugell Cemetery are figures regarded locally as notable contributors to the town and its region. Sources mention Josep Torres i Jonama and Modest Cuixart i Tàpies, along with Doctor Josep Alsina i Bofill — names tied to the cultural, social, or professional life of Palafrugell. Their presence turns the cemetery into more than a simple burial site; it functions as a quiet record of the local community across more than a century.

Is it worth visiting?

Palafrugell Cemetery is not a tourist attraction in the conventional sense, but for anyone interested in regional history, cemetery architecture, or Catalan family genealogy, it offers a genuinely interesting detour. It also offers a different angle on Palafrugell than the one most visitors get from the nearby Costa Brava beaches — a glimpse of a town with its own layered administrative and social history.

Frequently asked questions

When was Palafrugell Cemetery built? The current municipal cemetery on Coll de Morena was begun in 1885, replacing an earlier cemetery from 1816 located at a site known as Los Forns.

Where exactly is it located? It sits on the Coll de Morena hill on the outskirts of Palafrugell, in Girona province, Catalonia.

What architectural style does it represent? The cemetery has a rectangular plan and a symmetrical east-facing entrance topped with a curved pediment, a layout typical of late 19th-century Catalan cemeteries.

Who is buried there? Notable burials include Josep Torres i Jonama, Modest Cuixart i Tàpies, and Doctor Josep Alsina i Bofill.