La Laguna Opens Historic San Juan Bautista Cemetery for Guided Tours

The San Cristóbal de La Laguna City Council is opening the San Juan Bautista cemetery to the public, marking a new chapter in the preservation of the Canary Islands' funerary heritage. The site, which has been recognized as a Property of Cultural Interest since 2000, will host guided tours starting October 17.

These tours will run every Saturday through the end of the year, aiming to shift the perception of cemeteries from private spaces to important historical landmarks. The 90-minute tours begin at 10:00 a.m. and are managed by the firm Cultania. Those interested in attending can sign up through the local council’s website.

Dating back to 1814 with a major expansion in 1903, the cemetery acts as an open-air archive of the region's history. Cristina Ledesma, the Councilor for Cemeteries, noted that the tour begins at the nearby church and highlights the area’s social and artistic evolution. Visitors will explore unique features, including intricate sculptures, family pantheons like that of the Bretillard family, and the chapel’s neoclassical architecture, which is modeled after Hellenic temples.

The site also reflects the historical diversity of La Laguna. Notably, it includes a section that was reserved for non-Catholics until the Second Republic, offering a glimpse into the social norms and religious tensions of the past.

To help visitors explore at their own pace, the City Council has released a guide featuring three self-guided routes. This guide provides context on historical figures and helps visitors identify significant epitaphs and monuments. Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez stated that this initiative is part of a wider municipal effort to restore and share local history, transforming cemeteries into centers for cultural education.