Visit to the Cimitero delle Porte Sante

     Cimitero delle Porte Sante is located beside the Church of San Miniato al Monte which is above Piazza Michelangelo overlooking the city of Florence. Needless to say the walk up the hill to get to the cemetery was long, but it was worth the view. After walking through the beautiful Church we entered the graveyard. The cemetery was filled with sculptures and elaborate tombstones. The cemetery was created in 1854 and is the resting place of many well known Florentine writers, artists, and thinkers. There ground was covered in stone the graves were well kept. The elaborate decoration and amazing view made it clear that this graveyard must have been reserved for the rich and respected people of 19th century Florence. I couldn't help but compare this cemetery with fine carved stone above individual tombs to the one that I saw in Prague where jagged tombstones were clustered together. This comparison shows what most would like to do to honor their dead, and what others are forced to do for lack of an alternative.