In case you'd like to know...: A place to rest.

Sitting in the parte antica, back in January.

Some of my friends- well all of them actually- were somewhat alarmed and confused when I told them that I've been volunteering at a cemetery. This post will attempt to convey the beauty of the cimitero accatolico per gli stranieri a Roma, to explain what I've been doing there and to remove any idea that this is a strangely morbid way to spend your days in the Eternal City.

Keats' grave.

I first came across the cemetery back in October, when my parents first came to visit. We were all enchanted by our find. As a Literature student it appealed to me as the final resting place of Romantic poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. I then started thinking about the fact that it's a place for foreigners For those away from home. It's said that 'all roads lead to Rome', and I'm was curious about some of the paths and journeys that ended here.

I spotted a photo of a little boy's grave and was fortunate enough to meet the director of the cemetery and she was kind enough to show me where I'd find it. We got to talking and, long story short, I soon began volunteering in the Visitors' Centre.

Shelley's grave.

Yes. So for the record, I've been working in the Visitors' Centre. I haven't become a sexton and taken to digging graves, as many people have asked!

It's an interesting place and I've met all kinds of people. From the visitors themselves who come from all over the world. People looking for the graves of famous writers, artists and politicians. People looking for deceased friends and relatives. The volunteers themselves are quite fascinating. Most of us are foreigners here, having found their way to Rome from England, America, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, and so the list goes on. Many of them have lived all over the world, done something truly interesting and all of them our happy to share their experiences and the wisdom they've learnt.

One of the things I've been doing in the VC has been to help another volunteer with his labours to research and compile information about the lives of everyone buried in this unique place. Flipping through those folders I've been amazed at the adventurous lives so many of these people lived, saddened by some tragic circumstances and impressed by some of these peoples' accomplishments.

The Angel of Grief

The cemetery itself is beautiful and has such a perfect atmosphere of serenity.It's full of little paths, hidden gems- both in beautiful sculptures on graves and equally beautiful words- and also a great number of cats.

The Cats of Rome are famous and there's quite a big population living it large in the cemetery. In fact there's another group of volunteers working in the adjacent cattery. They feed and care for the dozens you see strolling around the grounds.

This is Theo.
He mostly just sits here, in the window of the VC.

I'm realise I'm probably doing a rubbish job of explaining what a lovely place this is, but it really is beautiful. Now that the weather's nice, I often just stay and read on the grass. It's just... peaceful. And at the end of the day, that's what a cemetery should be. Not creepy, or dark, or eery. When we lost a loved one we say, 'may they rest in peace', and I think that here people really do. People from all over the world, of all creeds, lying side by side in peace. With nothing in common but where they came to rest.

Having just said all that about strangers, you also find friends.
John Keats & Joseph Severn's graves, side by side.

So yeah, it's a lovely place and if you're ever in Rome you should definitely check it out. I've brought several of my visitors here and they've all really liked it.