Verano Monumental Cemetery

One the nicest places to spend a morning in the whole city. This is an early 19th century catholic cemetery in Rome next to st lorenzos basilica. If you like to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city then this is the place to come. The cemetery itself is the size of a small town (83 hectares) and is so full of beautiful tombs and statues that it’s more like an open air museum than a cemetery. Opened in the early 19th century but in use as a burial ground for over 2000 years the cemetery is currently split into several sections and there are big map boards all over to help you find your way around. I prefer to just wander and see where I end up. There aren’t too many bench’s but I can always find somewhere to sit for an hour to read a book

The Verano Monumental Cemetery stands as a testament to the rich historical tapestry of Rome, offering visitors a solemn yet captivating experience. Its vastness and architectural grandeur are both humbling and mesmerizing, inviting introspection and admiration. While the experience may be somewhat labyrinthine, it adds to the profound encounter with history and artistry that the cemetery embodies.

This cemetery was very near to my hotel in San Lorenzo and it is beautiful. I had to cut my visit short because of an impending thunderstorm but I could have spent at least an hour here. I don't think it's worth coming to San Lorenzo if you are visiting Rome for only a few days but if you have some extra time, and if history and monuments are your thing, 100% worth checking out.

Incredible beautiful and poetic. I spent a full day here, walking the grounds, ruminating on the lives of generations. A day well spent immersed in the lives of Romans of the past. Powerful. Calming.

Deserted. Decaying. Wonderful. Beautiful. I prefer this place to the Trevi Fountain or Spanish Steps. The statues are stunning. We spent 7 hours here and couldn’t see it all.

Beautiful! Bring mosquito spray. They attacked me in one minute of being there. Had to leave.

Enormous property, deserving of many hours to properly explore its several, completely different areas.

The Verano Monumental Cemetery covers an area of about 83 hectares. It has been a burial place for at least twenty centuries, as evidenced by the existence of a Roman necropolis: the catacombs of Santa Ciriaca. It owes the name Verano to the ancient Campo dei Verani, senatorial gens at the time of the Roman republic. It was founded along the Tiburtina consular road during the Napoleonic reign of 1805-1814, in compliance with the 1804 Edict of Saint-Cloud, which imposed burials outside the city walls. The project was entrusted to Giuseppe Valadier between 1807 and 1812. The cemetery was consecrated in 1835, even if its construction proceeded with Pope Gregory XVI and Pope Pius IX and under the direction of the great pontifical architect Virginio Vespignani.