Cementerio Inglés (English Cemetery), Malaga

The English Cemetery or the Cementerio Ingles is the largest non-Catholic burial ground in Spain. The graves of many famous Protestants who chose to live in Malaga are located here. It was recently declared as a monument of Cultural Interest by the city.

Before 1831, no Protestant could be buried in Spanish Catholic cemeteries. Their bodies were taken to the beach, buried upright in the sand at night and left to the mercy of the waves and dogs. In 1829, William Mark, the British Consul, obtained the trapezoid piece of wasteland for the purpose of giving an honorable burial for non-Catholics from the civic authorities of Malaga. Later, by Royal decree, the land was transferred to the British government. A wall was built around the burial ground in 1831. In 1839, the cemetery was expanded and a lodge temple was built for the residence of the cemetery guard and his family with a small guest room for visiting clergymen who came to perform funeral services. The lodge is now the Saint George’s Anglican Church. Another small lodge temple called 'the gatehouse' was built at the entrance that is now the information center.

Visitors can view the graves of prominent persons including British Hispanist, George Brenan and his wife, writer Gamel Woolsey of the Bloomsbury group, Robert Boyd, an Irishman who fought with the liberal Torrijos, and Finnish author, Aarne Hapakoski, by following the diagram available at the gift shop. Burials do not take place any longer but cremated remains of non-Catholics are still placed in the cemetery.

Tip:
No English guided tour during the day, but a laminated map with highlights is provided and a walk at one's own pace is much preferable.
Some locals say it's actually best to visit at night as with the shadows everything is additionally enhanced – try it!