Kozala Cemetery Rijeka

Museum in the open

Nikolina from Rijeka

About me I'm an art historian who has worked as a museum guide, freelance journalist and travel writer for the last ten years. I was born and raised in Rijeka, then moved to Zagreb to attend university. Eight years later, I moved back to my hometown because I missed the sea. I'm an avid reader and an insatiable consumer of pop culture and gummy bears. I send postcards from eve...
""Kozala Cemetery" in Rijeka is every bit as grandiose as its famous European counterparts. The grounds are a true museum in the open..."

It's not exactly Père Lachaise, but if you ask me, the Kozala cemetery is every bit as grandiose as its famous European counterparts. And while visiting a cemetery might not rank very high on your list of sightseeing priorities, is there a better place to learn about the local history and the famous citizens?

Opened in 1838, it's one of the oldest cemeteries in Croatia and is composed of various sections such as a historic Jewish cemetery, a military one, and a special section dedicated only to dogs, now closed.

The grounds are a true museum in the open, a stunning display of elaborate funerary architecture and sculpture created by renowned architects and artists. The multi-level necropolis is lined with solemn mausoleums and family tombs, crowned by a lavish structure commissioned by one of Rijeka's most famous inhabitants: Robert Whitehead, the English industrialist who developed the first self-propelled torpedo in history and opened a torpedo factory in Rijeka. Having died in England, Whitehead never got to be buried in his majestic mausoleum, but the structure stands to this day, guarding over the grounds below.

The Kozala cemetery is located a 15-minute walk from the city centre; if you're dreading the idea of walking uphill in the summer sun, take city bus no. 4. It's worth the short trip, not only for its historic significance, but because it's one of the rare places in town where you can always find some peace and quiet. 

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Rijeka Spotter Nikolina

About me I'm an art historian who has worked as a museum guide, freelance journalist and travel writer for the last ten years. I was born and raised in Rijeka, then moved to Zagreb to attend university. Eight years later, I moved back to my hometown because I missed the sea. I'm an avid reader and an insatiable consumer of pop culture and gummy bears. I send postcards from every town I visit, and for the life of me, I still don't know how to walk on snow. Why Rijeka Rijeka is easy to love, but hard to put into words. A former industrial giant, a peculiar...

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