Certosa di Bologna (memorial park), Bologna

The Certosa of Bologna cemetery, established in 1801, repurposed the structures of the Carthusian convent built from 1334 and dissolved in 1796. The intact San Girolamo church stands as a testament to the convent's former opulence. Adorning its walls are extensive paintings depicting Christ's life, crafted by leading Bolognese artists of the mid-17th century. At the heart of the cemetery lies the Third Cloister, reflecting local neoclassical culture, initially featuring painted tombs replaced over time by stucco, scagliola, marble, and bronze works. In 1869 an Etruscan necropolis, which had been in use from the 6th to the 3rd centuries BCE, was discovered here.

Over centuries, the complex evolved, incorporating loggias, cloisters, and buildings from the 15th century onwards, progressively gaining in grandeur. It houses a vast collection of 19th and 20th-century paintings and sculptures, a testament to Bologna's rich artistic, historical, and intellectual heritage, with recent contributions from contemporary artists.

The cemetery is the final resting place of notable figures in local and national history, including Marco Minghetti, Giorgio Morandi, or Bruno Saetti. Throughout the 19th century, the Certosa attracted renowned visitors like Lord Byron, Jules Janin, Charles Dickens, and Theodor Mommsen, who documented their visits.

Since 2021, the Certosa of Bologna has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Definitely worth a visit for art enthusiasts (provided they're not too sensitive about visiting cemeteries), it is located just outside the walls of the city, near the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, at the foot of the Monte della Guardia and the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca.