Cementerio de Santa María de Pazzis

Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is a beautiful example of a colonial era cemetery.  Ignacio Mascaro began its construction in 1863, taking over a provisional cemetery that had been in this location since 1845.  The cemetery opened in 1865 and was later expanded in 1884.  It is located on the grounds next to Fort San Felipe del Morro and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.  Some of Puerto Rico’s most important historical figures are buried here. 

a) Pedro Albizu Campos- (September 12, 1891 - April 21, 1965) Lawyer, politician, and leader of Puerto Rico’s nationalist movement.  He was a brilliant man. He studied chemical engineering at the University of Vermont and philosophy, literature, and law at Harvard University. After experiencing discrimination during World War I in the U.S. Army as part of an all-black regiment, and as a student at Harvard, he returned to the island determined to lead Puerto Rico to its  independence from the United States.  As part of his fight, he spent a total of 23 years in jail.  He was pardoned in 1964 and died a few months after. 

b) Alejandro Tapia y Rivera- (November 12, 1826 – July 19, 1882)  He is known as the father of Puerto Rican literature.  He grew up in San Juan, living with his mother and sister after losing his father at age five.  At age 22 he was involved in a duel.  He was injured but survived, and was exiled to Spain.  He spent 13 years in Spain.  When he lived in Spain he was influenced by Spanish Romanticism.  After he returned to the island he worked as a teacher, founded the “Ateneo Puertorriqueño,” and wrote short-stories, legends, novels, and plays.

c)José Julián Acosta- (February 16, 1825 – August 26, 1891) He was a teacher, politician, lawyer, historiographer, and fighter for the emancipation of slaves in Puerto Rico.  He was one of Rafael Cordero’s best students. He obtained a degree in physics and mathematics from the Central University of Madrid.  He returned to Puerto Rico in 1852 and was involved in education, historiography, and politics. He was also a member of the Puerto Rican Commission to Spain.  In Spain he argued for the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico.  He was sent to jail in 1868 because it was suspected that he participated in the “Grito de Lares.” In 1871 he was elected representative to the Spanish Courts.  

d) Jóse Gautier Benitez- (April 12, 1849 – January 24, 1880) One of the best writers of Romantic poetry in Puerto Rico.  Even though growing up he went to military school and continued his military studies in Spain, when he returned to Puerto Rico he did office work, wrote for newspapers, and worked on his poetry.  The themes of his poetry include friendship, love, love for his country, and death. He died at age 30 of tuberculosis. His most famous poems include A Puerto Rico (ausencia), A Puerto Rico (regreso), and La barca. 

      e) Jose de Diego- (April 16, 1866 – July 16, 1918) He was a poet, lawyer, and politician.  He grew up in Mayagüez and later studied in Spain and Habana, Cuba. He is known as the father of Puerto Rico’s modern poetry movement. He also became judge of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.  As a politician he fought for the independence of Puerto Rico. Even though he initially supported the American occupation, the racist attitude of the U.S military and U.S. representatives in Puerto Rico made him change his mind.