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All Italy Rome The Protestant Cemetery

The Protestant Cemetery

The final resting place of the poets Shelley and Keats.

Rome, Italy

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View of the Caius Cestius pyramid   designwallah/Flickr
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Grave of Keats   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
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Grave of Shelley   Allison / Atlas Obscura User
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The secluded non Catholic Cemetery in Rome   https://www.itertours.com/gallery/
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Tomb of Antonio Gramsci, founder of the Italian Communist party   https://www.itertours.com/gallery/
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About

The Protestant Cemetery of Rome, officially known as Cimitero acattolico (Non-Catholic cemetery) – in fact, it also houses several Christian Orthodox graves – and informally as Cimitero degli inglesi (Cemetery of Englishmen) orCimitero degli stranieri (Cemetery of Foreigners), is hidden behind the pyramid of Caius Cestius, in the Roman rione (district) of Testaccio.

Because Rome has always attracted visitors from all over the world, and many of them have been artists and scholars searching for the signs of Roman history, this ancient, park-like section of the cemetery contains a number of artists' graves, in particular those of the great Romantic poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. The modern, more crowded section accommodates thousands of graves of famous and less-famous people, among whom Communist leader Antonio Gramsci, writer Carlo Emilio Gadda, physicist Bruno Pontecorvo.

The cemetery is one of the oldest burial grounds in continuous use in Europe (the earliest burial dates back to 1738) and is packed with history and beautiful monuments. It is also, along with the enclosure of the nearby pyramid, home to one of Rome's famous semi-feral cat colonies, tended by volunteers.

Another Roman cat sanctuary is located at Torre Argentina.

Related Tags

Statues Catacombs Cemeteries Cats Catacombs And Crypts Animals

Know Before You Go

Main Entrance:
Via Caio Cestio, 6
00153 Roma

Buses:
3-75-23-60-280-30-175

Metro:
Underground B line – stop at Piramide

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Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

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Community Contributors

Added By

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Edited By

gewurz, mbison, Allison, Ursa...

  • gewurz
  • mbison
  • Allison
  • Ursa
  • contender
  • dbshaw
  • seba7280
  • stephenlang34
  • Cloud Winchester
  • Alberto
  • Rowanntree

Published

February 11, 2010

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The Protestant Cemetery
Via Caio Cestio, 6
Rome, 00153
Italy
41.878401, 12.480778
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

Pyramid of Cestius

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Stories 24

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Rome

Rome

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Places 144
Stories 24

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