Cementerio Barquíjano
June 17, 2009
Walking along Av. Oscar R. Benavides, once called the Avenida Colonial that joined Callao with distant Lima, I happened upon this very pretty cemetery. It was Sunday and the large entrance was busy with families visiting lost relatives and flower sellers doing a brisk trade.
This public cemetery, built in 1859 is the final resting place of Chalacos (as the people from Callao are called) both rich and poor. The rich have built grand mausoleums while the poor suffice with a nook in a wall of tombs. Interestingly for such an old cemetery it is still in use, and it is a strange contrast to see much more modern mausoleums and graves alongside much older ones, or see old family plots more recently added to. It is also obvious, through the placing of fresh flowers and candles, whom among the dead are still remembered and mourned, and who have been forgotten. Photos…
Comments (2)
This was one the first and last places I visited before I left Peru. It was just so amazing and different to anything I experienced in terms of graveyards. Especially the walls of tombs.
My grandparents as wells a couple aunts and uncles rest there today.
I have been researching my last name and for some reason the words “Ta guacta” always seems to come up on the internest originating from Peru. Have you ever heard of this and I am very interested if you have seen this. I presently live in Guam several thousand miles west of Peru, and I find this to be to close to be chance. Should you know anything send an email as I would very much appreciate it.
Thanks,
Joaquin L. Taguacta