The region of Madrid has more than 260 cemeteries. Almost all will be visited by around one million people next November 1, All Saints' Day. There are some who, however, will not cross their doors to anyone, nor will the surface of colored flowers, like the Jewish cemetery in Hoyo de Manzanares, where some 350 people buried there. There, family members and friends only come on the anniversary of the death of his friend.
Others, such as the 'graveyard-island' of Las Rozas, are "full" throughout the year, says Miguel, responsible for their care. With almost a hundred years old, is embedded between the rails on the A-6. "This cemetery is the most watched in Spain. At 7 o'clock in the morning and there is traffic jam at the side of the highway, which goes to Madrid, and 6 and in the afternoon to another. There are always people," said Miguel .
Few know that in Carabanchel, near the street General Ricardo, after some colored terrazzo walls, is the British cemetery. Within the walls of the cemetery, two meters from the CLOTHES DRYERS of low houses and humble, are kept secret spies, masons, and hundreds of rescuers of European Jews in the plan 'list of Schindler'. .es offers a tour of these cemeteries and their curiosities:
'cemetery-island' of Las Rozas, 'the most-watched Spanish'
Bus-lane extension of the VAO of the A-6, now under implementation, will leave one of the walls of the ancient cemetery of Las Rozas in just three meters from the car. Built more than 90 years ago at the height of kilometer 18, this cemetery has endured all the attacks of the new era. "First, in 1962 became the highway to one side, then the two sides and now the Bus-VAO. The cars pass each time closer," says Miguel, responsible for the care of the graveyard.
Rumors that the graves will be moved to another cemetery run each year by word of mouth. Bulos. "This cemetery is a born survivor, has survived the war and all the works that around. Now we will be more confined but it is impossible to touch," says Michael, who explained that although it is mandatory to come by bus or by car -- we must cross the A-6-under, every weekend "is a relative."
The place was built after a transfer of land from the family Riaza, which has the largest pantheon, is small and it was just buried there. As decades ago, the graves of children are separated from the rest. "Before we even had a booth where the autopsies were done." The rub prefer, however, the new cemetery, built in 1970, to the nearest town. "We bury very little since, as three or four times a year, mostly older people to know that you have here the niches of his family," said his caretaker.
Despite the highway, the 'graveyard-island' of Las Rozas, which has about 270 tombs, some semi-abandoned, it is very quiet, "very normal". As a curious note is the legend that within a stone with no name lies the body of the mistress of a general Franco. The graffiti also have left their mark on the walls, privileged locations for the 'works' are seen from the highway. If you had to choose, Miguel stays with the new cemetery. "Here, every time there is a burial there to get on the tombstones or pass through the trees. It's very uncomfortable and tedious to work," explains Michael. "The coming days will be a crowded and flowers. It's very nice," he concludes.
The Jewish cemetery
Hole
Flores on Saturday there will not be in the Jewish cemetery in Hoyo de Manzanares. Neither the Saturday nor the other 364 days. Judaism forbids the flowers and pictures or crosses. The star of David is the only symbols on the tombstones, very orderly, all looking south-to-Jerusalem, in a spacious land. There are more than 800 graves, but fewer than half are occupied. Many of the graves are stones, some with colored and messages. It is the way to the ''-Jews from eastern Europe, to tell that their deceased relatives kept alive his memory.
The Jewish Community in Madrid decided at the end of the 70 have their own cemetery. "The Madrid city council gave us a spot next to the cemetery next to civil-La Almudena, but we wanted an outright. There are leases for 99 years, and if nobody is in charge then, are carried coffins, so you can not fulfill what he says our religion, which the body remains at a site for eternity, "says Solomon Benam, president of the Institution Hebra-Kadish, in charge of everything related to the burials in the community.
Institution bought the land in Hoyo with money from individuals. "They gave us more facilities." Solomon always fulfilled precisely the same ritual. When someone from the community is near death, volunteers from the association come to accompany the family in the last moments of their relatives. Following the passage by the Funeral home, almost always the Tres Cantos, the body is moved to Hole, where another group-men if the deceased is male or female and female-are responsible for "doing the cleansing." "It washes the body and without shoes or clothing. He was wearing a pair of trousers, a shirt and a layer of linen."
Although the Jewish religion specifies that the body "must go to earth," Hole in the dead were buried in coffin. "We do it because we respect the Spanish laws," said Solomon, adding that among the Jews "there's a lot of culture to go to the cemetery." "Our religion says that it is not good."
British Cemetery: From spies, masons and celebrities
Many
Athletic supporters parked their cars on Sunday on the streets Commander Fontana, near the Meadow of San Isidro. Most know that a few steps away is the British cemetery. Goes unnoticed. It was founded in 1854. The British Embassy wanted to give a space to bury those non-Catholic. They were not admitted to other cemeteries place. So, given not only shelter but a British Jews, Lutherans or members of the Russian Orthodox Church and Greek.
"The British Government had a spot in Columbus, but do not let him use a cemetery," says Hispanist David Butler, an expert in the cemetery and a member of the foundation that is responsible for its maintenance. The graveyard has a very 'British', there is a pantheon of great British family and a respected headstones Jewish, Orthodox, and even Masonic. In total, 700 graves. "There were no restrictions of any kind," says Butler.
Among the personalities
Buried is the founder of the Circus Price, the entrepreneur who launched the restaurant Lhardy or relatives of the Loewe or Boetticher. "Here there is a whole mess of things fascinating and mysterious," said Butler. One of the oldest graves is Charles Clifford, who died in 1883 -, founder of the graveyard and adventurer who was perfecting photography from hot air balloons when he died.
"Many of the people who are here were known and respected, some even worked for the British secret service," reveals Butler. Also buried in this place are the founders of the pastry Embassy, where some historians say they were hidden and then moved to other locations thousands of Jewish refugees in Madrid, or members of the royal family in Georgia in exile, as well as a descendant of U.S. president John Quincy Adams. "His family, Alice Bache Gould, a historian was an expert in Critbal Columbus," Butler said while pointing a humble tombstone. "It was not well seen in his time a woman in libraries. They said they distracted to scholars."
