Cementerio Viejo de Algeciras

Updated April 16, 2024

Grupo de Patrimonio C.E.Per. Juan Ramón Jiménez. Algeciras: Cementerio …

## Cementerio Viejo de Algeciras: marine cemetery, memory site and resting place of Paco de Lucía

On the northern edge of Algeciras, along the Ctra. Cementerio and very close to the old beach of Los Ladrillos, the Cementerio Viejo de Algeciras (also called Cementerio Municipal del Rinconcillo) concentrates almost two centuries of local history in a relatively compact space.

It functions today as both an active cemetery and a heritage site: a “cementerio marino” facing the Bay of Algeciras, a place of family memory, and the burial place of the flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía. de Gibraltar Siglo XXI

Below you’ll find what is known, verifiable and current about the site—no folklore presented as fact, and any potentially outdated information is flagged clearly.

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## A brief, evidence-based history

### Origins in the mid-19th century

A marble plaque over the main gate states that the cemetery was built at the expense of the people of Algeciras in 1848, under mayor Antonio Blanco y Francás.

Historical notes from a local heritage project and cemetery catalog add a few key points:

– The cemetery was blessed and inaugurated on 22 September 1849.
– It originally consisted of four large patios:
– the central patio,
– the patio of Virgen de la Palma,
– and two additional courtyards, with a small chapel and several monumental mausoleums.
– In 1885, a small building for mortuary deposit and autopsies was constructed; it has not been used for that function for years.

According to several local sources, mayor Antonio Blanco died the same year the cemetery was inaugurated and was buried there; his name appears at the entrance in recognition of that role.

### A “new” cemetery that became the old one

The current “old” cemetery actually replaced an even earlier burial ground:

– In 1862–1863, the remaining remains from the former cemetery of Algeciras were exhumed and transferred to a large common grave behind the chapel at the new site. A marble monument records this transfer, including the names of municipal officials who oversaw it.

This explains why you’ll find older 19th-century dates than the inauguration on some monuments: they sometimes refer to people originally buried in the earlier cemetery.

### Plural Algeciras: “dissident” and military areas

The layout also reflects religious and political fractures of Spanish history:

– In 1891, the city purchased adjacent land to create a non-Catholic cemetery area, often described at the time as for “dissidents”.
– In 1944, half of that annexed space was separated and connected to the Catholic area to bury those who died in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), described in period language as “caídos de la Guerra Civil”.

Today Spain’s democratic-memory institutions also identify the Cementerio Viejo as containing at least one mass grave with a minimum of fourteen victims of Franco-era repression, underlining its role as a site of historical memory, not just a local burial ground.

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## What to look for during a visit

### 1. The entrance arch and marine setting

The white-and-brick entrance arch on Ctra. Cementerio is one of the most recognisable images of the site. The façade carries:

– The 1848 plaque (“Se construyó a expensas del pueblo…”).
– Additional inscriptions identifying it as the municipal cemetery.

Behind the gate, cypress-lined paths frame views towards the Bay of Algeciras. Contemporary heritage descriptions explicitly note that the cemetery stands next to Playa de Los Ladrillos, which is why local media and historians often refer to it as a “cementerio marino”. de Gibraltar Siglo XXI

### 2. 19th-century mausoleums and funerary art

The central patio and the Virgen de la Palma patio preserve some of the most elaborate funerary monuments in the Campo de Gibraltar: tall stone pinnacles, sculpted crosses and family pantheons from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Local press highlights at least one particularly striking tomb: that of a young woman killed in 1920 while trying to break up a fight, remembered by a sculpture of an angel weeping over her figure.

For visitors interested in funerary sculpture and historic epitaphs, these patios offer most of the visual “reading material” of the site.

### 3. The chapel and All Saints’ night

The small chapel inside the cemetery is active and has recently gained visibility thanks to the celebrations of Todos los Santos (1 November) and Día de los Fieles Difuntos (2 November).

In 2024, the city announced that, for the first time, the chapel in the old cemetery would remain open throughout the night of All Saints, with a programme of liturgies and a nocturnal exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

This shows that, although it is an historic cemetery, it still plays a living role in the religious calendar of Algeciras.

> ⚠️ Time-sensitive: these extended nocturnal openings are linked to the All Saints period and are not year-round. Future schedules may change; they depend on municipal decisions each year.

### 4. Paco de Lucía’s grave

One of the most visited spots inside the cemetery today is the tomb of Paco de Lucía (1947–2014), widely regarded as one of the most important flamenco guitarists in history.

Accessible guides to the official “Ruta de Paco de Lucía” in Algeciras explain that:

– Paco de Lucía expressed the wish to be buried in the Cementerio Viejo de Algeciras.
– He was buried in the Patio de San José of this cemetery.
– His parents and brothers are buried in the same area.
– The grave receives frequent visits and floral offerings.

For fans of flamenco or Spanish music history, this makes the cemetery a meaningful final stop after visiting sites such as his birthplace and the monument on the waterfront.

### 5. “El Santito” / “El Soldado”: legend and memory

Another focal point is the tomb of Antonio Vera Vicario, known locally as “el Santito” or “el Soldado”.

Local media and historical-memory associations agree on several verifiable facts: de Cádiz

– Antonio was a young man associated with the military (often described as a legionario / soldier).
– He is buried in the old cemetery of Algeciras.
– From at least the late 20th century, his tomb has become a popular place of devotion, where people leave flowers and petitions.
– The grave has been the focus of restoration and improvement campaigns in recent years, including a 2025 initiative supported by the mayor to beautify it.

Around these facts, a local legend has grown that attributes miraculous favours or protections to “el Santito”. It is important to distinguish:

– The existence of the devotion and the tomb → documented fact.
– The alleged miracles or supernatural events → matters of personal belief, not historically verifiable.

Travel-wise, the tomb illustrates how a contemporary urban legend can turn a single grave into a small pilgrimage point inside a municipal cemetery.

### 6. Civil-war and Franco-era graves

Spanish democratic-memory records identify a mass grave with at least 14 victims from the period of the Civil War and early Francoism within the Cementerio Viejo.

There have been public calls by memory organisations for archaeological surveys and exhumations in the cemetery to clarify the exact locations and identities of victims.

Visitors should be aware that, beyond its sculptural interest, this is also:

– A site of trauma and repression, and
– A living reference point in ongoing debates about historical memory in Andalusia.

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## Practical visiting information (with date flags)

### Location and access

– Address: Ctra. Cementerio, 11204 Algeciras, Cádiz, Spain. and Fins
– It lies just inland from the Rinconcillo / Los Ladrillos shoreline on the northern side of the city. de Gibraltar Siglo XXI

There is road access directly to the main gate; local mapping and skatepark listings confirm the same road and postcode for nearby facilities. and Fins

### Opening hours and seasonal changes

Here’s what can be said with up-to-date, sourced information:

– In October–early November 2025, the municipal cemeteries of Algeciras, including the old cemetery and Botafuegos, set extended opening hours of 08:00–19:00 every day to accommodate Todos los Santos and Día de Difuntos. SER
– In 2024, for All Saints, the city organised a special nocturnal opening of the chapel and cemetery with religious acts between 1–2 November.

> ⚠️ Outdated-risk alert:
> – The general Delegación de Cementerios page of the Ayuntamiento lists office hours and contacts, but the page dates from 2014, so specific timetables there may no longer be current.
> – Extended hours and special nocturnal openings around Todos los Santos are announced annually and can change year to year. Área Campo de Gibraltar

Practical advice: treat all times above as historical examples, not guarantees. For an actual visit, it is safest to:

– Check the latest Ayuntamiento de Algeciras – Cementerios announcements, or
– Call/email the cemetery offices listed on the municipal site to confirm current hours.

### Respectful behaviour

Given the combination of:

– active burial site,
– historic Civil-War graves, and
– religious devotion (chapel, “el Santito”, All Saints’ liturgies),

a few common-sense guidelines apply:

– Keep voices low and avoid music.
– Ask staff permission before taking close-up photos of individual graves, especially when families are present.
– Do not touch offerings left at tombs such as Paco de Lucía’s grave or the Santito’s niche.

These aren’t legal regulations pulled from an ordinance, but they are consistent with standard etiquette in Spanish cemeteries.

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## Why the cemetery matters in a wider Algeciras itinerary

Putting only verifiable elements together, the Cementerio Viejo de Algeciras offers three distinct layers of interest:

Key Highlights

• 19th-century funerary architecture and family pantheons
• Notable graves including Paco de Lucía and other local figures
• Sculptural tombstones and wrought-iron details reflecting regional styles
• Cypress-lined avenues offering contemplative walks and coastal glimpses
• Interpretive material and local heritage research highlighting civic memory

Location

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