Cementerio General de Chile
Encyclopedia
The Cementerio General de Santiago, Chile
is one of the largest cemeteries in Latin America with an estimated 2 million burials.The cemetery was established in 1820 after Chile's independence when Bernardo O'Higgins
inaugurated the Alameda de las Delicias along the old course of the Mapocho River
. O'Higgins set aside more than 85 hectare
s of land for the foundation of what became a magnificent grounds filled with ornate mausoleum
s surrounded by palm and leaf trees set amidst lush gardens and numerous sculptures.
This cemetery is the final resting place for all but two of the deceased Presidents of Chile, the exceptions being Gabriel González Videla
and Augusto Pinochet
. One of the most visited memorials is that of former President Salvador Allende
who had been buried in the Santa Ines cemetery at Viña del Mar
following his suicide in the 1973 coup d'état
. With the democratic changes that began in the 1990s, Allende was exhumed and his remains were transported in a solemn procession through the streets of Santiago to a place of honor in the Cementerio General de Santiago. The cemetery also has a memorial to the people that were 'disappeared
' during the regime of Augusto Pinochet
that ousted President Allende.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
is one of the largest cemeteries in Latin America with an estimated 2 million burials.The cemetery was established in 1820 after Chile's independence when Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme was a Chilean independence leader who, together with José de San Martín, freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile , he is considered one of Chile's founding fathers, as he was the first holder...
inaugurated the Alameda de las Delicias along the old course of the Mapocho River
Mapocho River
The Mapocho River flows from the Andes mountains onto the west and divides Chile's capital Santiago in two.-Course:...
. O'Higgins set aside more than 85 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s of land for the foundation of what became a magnificent grounds filled with ornate mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
s surrounded by palm and leaf trees set amidst lush gardens and numerous sculptures.
This cemetery is the final resting place for all but two of the deceased Presidents of Chile, the exceptions being Gabriel González Videla
Gabriel González Videla
Gabriel González Videla was a Chilean politician. He was a deputy and senator in the Chilean Congress and was President of Chile from 1946 to 1952...
and Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
. One of the most visited memorials is that of former President Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
who had been buried in the Santa Ines cemetery at Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar , is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches are a major attraction for national and international tourists. The city is Chile's main tourist attraction. Known as "La Ciudad Jardín" , Viña del Mar is a Chilean Municipality located...
following his suicide in the 1973 coup d'état
Chilean coup of 1973
The 1973 Chilean coup d'état was a watershed event of the Cold War and the history of Chile. Following an extended period of political unrest between the conservative-dominated Congress of Chile and the socialist-leaning President Salvador Allende, discontent culminated in the latter's downfall in...
. With the democratic changes that began in the 1990s, Allende was exhumed and his remains were transported in a solemn procession through the streets of Santiago to a place of honor in the Cementerio General de Santiago. The cemetery also has a memorial to the people that were 'disappeared
Forced disappearance
In international human rights law, a forced disappearance occurs when a person is secretly abducted or imprisoned by a state or political organization or by a third party with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of a state or political organization, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the...
' during the regime of Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
that ousted President Allende.
Notable interments
- Salvador AllendeSalvador AllendeSalvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
(1908-1973), President of Chile - Arturo AlessandriArturo AlessandriArturo Fortunato Alessandri Palma was a Chilean political figure and reformer, who served twice as the President of Chile, first between 1920 and 1924, and then again in 1925, and finally from 1932 until 1938....
(1868-1950), President of Chile - Jaime GuzmánJaime GuzmánJaime Jorge Guzmán Errázuriz was a Chilean lawyer and senator, member and doctrinal founder of the conservative Independent Democrat Union party. He opposed Marxist President Salvador Allende and later became a close advisor to dictator Augusto Pinochet. A professor of Constitutional Law, he...
(1946-1991), Senator. - Víctor JaraVíctor JaraVíctor Lidio Jara Martínez was a Chilean teacher, theatre director, poet, singer-songwriter, political activist and member of the Communist Party of Chile...
(1932-1973), poet, folk singer - Orlando LetelierOrlando LetelierMarcos Orlando Letelier del Solar was a Chilean economist, Socialist politician and diplomat during the presidency of Socialist President Salvador Allende...
(1932-1976), statesman - Eduardo Frei MontalvaEduardo Frei MontalvaEduardo Frei Montalva was a Chilean political leader of world stature. In his long political career, he was Minister of Public Works, president of his Christian Democratic Party, senator, President of the Senate, and president of Chile from 1964 to 1970...
(1911-1982), President of Chile - Violeta ParraVioleta ParraVioleta del Carmen Parra Sandoval was a notable Chilean composer, songwriter, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and visual artist...
(1917-1967), folk singer - Miguel Enríquez Espinosa (1944-1974), General Secretary of the Revolutionary Left MovementRevolutionary Left Movement (Chile)Revolutionary Left Movement is a Chilean political party and former left-wing guerrilla organization founded on October 12, 1965...
- Eduardo AlquintaEduardo AlquintaEduardo "Gato" Alquinta was a singer in the folk group Los Jaivas, Chile's longest-surviving group. He died of a heart attack while on vacation in Coquimbo, Chile....
(1945-2003), Musician, leader of the Chilean band Los JaivasLos JaivasLos Jaivas are a Chilean musical group who perform in folk, rock, and progressive rock styles.-History:Los Jaivas appeared in Chilean music in 1963 as a progressive-rock-andino group, mixing rock with South American ancestral music...
.