San Rafael and San Roque Cemetery

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Religious architecture · Year: 1810-1823

Until 1810 all burials in the Canary Islands were made, according to secular norms, in churches and chapels, except for members of religious orders who were buried in their own convents. That year Santa Cruz was affected by a terrible yellow fever epidemic that caused havoc. From a population of just over 7,000 inhabitants, in the first onslaught of the disease, more than half fled to other parts of the island, leaving just over 3,000 people in the port, of whom more than 2,500 fell ill and 1,332 died, to which must be added 290 who died the following year in the second outbreak. That is, in a year and a half the disease claimed 1,622 lives.

The lack of space for new burials due to saturation in churches and chapels was the origin of this civil cemetery. A vacant lot located between the Ermita de la Regla and the Ermita de San Sebastián, on the outskirts of the town, was chosen for its location. The work was carried out by master mason José María de Zerpa, concluding after great difficulties (the municipal coffers were exhausted) in 1823. Since then and for a century it was the cemetery of Santa Cruz.

Within its grounds are the graves of the most renowned families of nineteenth-century Santa Cruz. During the 19th century, various expansions were made to this holy field, until it ceased to be used in 1916, with the opening of the new Santa Lastenia cemetery. From then on and for many years the San Rafael and San Roque cemetery was in a state of total abandonment, although recently measures have been taken by the City Council to bring it out of oblivion, given its undeniable heritage interest.

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