Cemitério Campo Santo

Salvador (Bahia – BA)

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The history of the city of Salvador begins with the discovery of the Bay of All Saints, 48 years before its official foundation. The Bay “Bahia” was in a good location and had nice port conditions, thus becoming one of the most known and visited places in Latin America, which promoted the idea of building the city.
The king Don John III named the military and politician Thomé de Souza to be the general governor of Brazil and to found the first Portuguese metropolis in America by the edges of the Bay. On March 29^th, 1549, the Portuguese fleet entered the Brazilian port, commanded by Diogo Álvares “o Caramuru”, and in this way the city of San Salvador of the Bay of All Saints was founded.

Salvador was the first province to accomplish the Prince Regent ´s order which determined the construction of cemeteries in the outskirts of the urban limits. It was defined a territory which was given to a private company to assume the monopoly of the burials. With the prohibition of burials in churches and other political factors, there was a rebellion of the Salvador population on October 25^th, 1836, which was known as “Cemiterada” (REIS, 2000).

It was an expression of protest called by the brotherhoods and third orders of Salvador against secularization of cemeteries and the ban of burials in churches. More than 3,000 people went to the cemetery carrying axes and levers. They promoted the destruction of several tombs, graves and even the chapel of the site. The cemetery of Holy Field was established by the Holy House of Mercy of Bahia “Santa Casa de Misericórdia da Bahia”, being implemented definitely in 1844. It was the first cemetery to allow the burials of any social class people. It was located in Big Hillock “Outeiro Grande”, outside the city limits, on the road to the Red River “Rio Vermelho”. Today it occupies an area of 360,000 square meters and is one of the most traditional cemeteries in the city, it also composes a priceless historical and architectural heap . In 2005 the Holy House of Mercy launched a project to become the Holy Field Cemetery into an “open air museum” where residents and visitors could learn about the tombs of the “baianas” personalities (baianos/baianas=people who are born in Bahia), and also acquire knowledge about the funerary art in Brazil. Since March 2007, 27 blocks in the Holy Field had their statues, mausoleums, tombs and ornaments cataloged and opened to monitored visitation.

Timeline:

1549 – The Portuguese Armada arrives in Brazil. Foundation of the city of San Salvador of the Bay of all Saints.
1715 – The Gunpowder Field Cemetery already existed, where indigents and slaves were buried.
1798 – The tailors rebellion.
1809 – The Count of Arches takes over the administration of the city.
1835 – The rebellion of the Moslem slaves “Revolta dos Malês” occurs.
1835 – Approval of the provincial law that prohibited the burials in the churches and also in the catacombs.
1836 – The construction of the Holy Field Cemetery starts, where formerly existed the Saint Gonçalo farm.
1836 – Cemeterial Rebellion “Revolta Cemiterada”, which destroyed part of the Holy Field cemetery.
1844 – The Holy Field Cemetery is implanted definitely. The engineer Bloen – director of public works of the province of Bahia – is responsible for the work. The Gunpowder Field Cemetery is shut down.
1855 – The public cemeteries were definitely established in Salvador.
1856 – The Public Cemetery of the Farm of the Lazars – “Quinta dos Lázaros” is officially established. (1st cemetery in the Farm of the Lazars). (Quinta=residence of a large rural property designated to rest; farm).
1856 – Installation of the Cemetery of Venerable Third Order of Penance of the Seraphic Father San Francisco. (2nd cemetery in the Farm of the Lazars).
1857 – Foundation of the Cemetery of the Monastery of Saint Francis (3rd cemetery located in the Farm of the Lazars).
1857 – Foundation of the Cemetery of the Lazars. (4th Cemetery in the Farm of the Lazars).
1859 – Foundation of the Cemetery of the Venerable Third Order of Carmo. (5th cemetery located in the Farm of the Lazars).
1863 – Installation of the Project for the Regulation of Holy Field.
1865 – The Field-Marshal Alexandre Gomes Ferrão d´Argolo acquires the Statue of Faith made by the German sculptor Johann von Habilg for the tomb of his son José Francisco Joaquim Gomes d’
1870/71 – Architect Carlos Croesy designs the project of the current Church of the Holy Field, Neo-Gothic style.
1874 – Inauguration of the church consecrated to Our Lady of Mercy.
1966 – The Statue of Faith was registered by IPHAN – “Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional” – National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage.
20th Century – Construction of the Cemetery of Israelis, also located in the Farm of the Lazars.
2005 – Project to transform the Holy Field Cemetery in an open air museum.
2007 – The Holy Field Cemetery is open to guided cultural visiting.

The Holy Field Cemetery is located in the current district of Federation – “Federação” – a central and populated neighborhood where there are important cemeteries and units of UFBA –“Universidade Federal da Bahia” – Federal University of Bahia. The district has boundaries with “Graça and Canela” – Grace and Cinnamon (to the West), with Garcia (to the North), “Parque São Braz” – St. Braz Park (to the east) and “Alto das Pombas” – Peak of the Pigeons – Ondina and “Engenho Velho da Federação” – Old Sugar-Mill of the Federation (to the south). The Holy Field Cemetery is in front of the Cemetery of the Germans, facing the teutonic community. Near the Holy Field there are the Clinical Hospital and the Research Institute of Tuberculosis.

In the Holy Field of Salvador there are buried so many illustrious personalities belonging to the “baiana” society. The initial idea was to represent a “microcosm of the society” (COSTA, 2003). Today it is a national reference due to a large number of funerary monuments, for their artistic value and the important people who are buried there. In the 19th century we can mention the burials of the Baron of Carayba, the Baron of Camaçari, the Baron of Itapuã. In the 20th century we highlight the tombs of Lord of Sarahype; the family of the poet Castro Alves and politicians as Otávio Mangabeira and Lauro Freitas. Parts of the cemetery are destinated to religious brotherhoods such as the Blessed Sacrament of Old St. Peter and Our Lady of the Rosary. In this place there are also the remains of the Senator Antonio Carlos Magalhães. (2007).

In the Holy Field of Salvador there are buried so many illustrious personalities belonging to the “baiana” society. The initial idea was to represent a “microcosm of the society” (COSTA, 2003). Today it is a national reference due to a large number of funerary monuments, for their artistic value and the important people who are buried there. In the 19th century we can mention the burials of the Baron of Carayba, the Baron of Camaçari, the Baron of Itapuã. In the 20th century we highlight the tombs of the Baron of Sarahype; the family of the poet Castro Alves and politicians such as Otávio Mangabeira and Lauro Freitas. Parts of the cemetery are designated to religious brotherhoods such as the Blessed Sacrament of Old St. Peter and Our Lady of the Rosary. In this place there are also the remains of the Senator Antonio Carlos Magalhães. (2007).

MODERN-CLASSICIST CHAPEL-TOMB, the 20th century, block A. This is surely a replica of a Greek temple entrance built in black granite, around 1950, by the family of Professor Dr. Fernando Luz. The “baiana” society is thankful to the eminent surgeon, adding to his tomb a realistic bas-relief that records the merits of this great master in medicine.

ECLECTIC CHAPEL- TOMB , the 19th century (1867), block 7. This is a very ornamented chapel decorated with Roman arches, sculptures and floral bas-relief. It was built in pink marble of Carrara under the care of the family of Manoel Cardoso Amaral. We highlight the sides of the building that contain neoclassical sculptures of great stature.

NEOCLASSICAL MAUSOLEUM, the 19th century, block 5. The construction priviledges the baldaquim space that protects the Allegory to the Religion. Note the refinedness of the christian ornaments linked to the existence of death; sand-glass, pyres and skulls.

THE WEEPER, the 20th century (1923), block 2. The monument promotes a special spatiality to represent the coffin of Manoel Joaquim de Carvalho. There is a woman lying down, expressing all her suffering for the inevitable loss, the transparent garment shows the sensuality of the classicist sculpture.

ECLETIC CHAPEL-TOMB, 20th century. Located on a privileged position in the cemetery, isolated between blocks. This is a chapel surrounded by gates and walls made of cast iron, bounded by pillars. The access to the bust of Bento Quirino dos Santos is through two beautiful side stairs, with art deco completion.

A TYPICAL “BAIANA” TOMB, the 20th century. Probably this tomb is in the wing destinated to Our Lady of the Rosary Brotherhood. We can notice on the epitaph a very peculiar characteristic belonging to the “Baiana” culture by adopting the word.

COLLECTIVE TOMBS, the 19th century, block A. The Holy Field released a hundred and eight (108) tombs to bury the brothers of the Brotherhood of the St. Sacrament of Old San Peter.They are simple, contain engraved epitaphs and sometimes small jardinieres filled with flowers. They occupy a special wing in the Holy Field.

THE COFFIN, the 20th century. Many tombs in Brazil, mainly in the 19th century, commonly represented well ornamented funeral urns on the grave. Here, the family had the care of placing with great realism and simplicity a sculpture of a coffin – very rare.

NEOGOTHIC CHAPEL-TOMB, the 20th century (1903), block 5. The family of Jose Pinto Novais, chose to build a chapel according to neogothic ideals: ogival arches and pinnacles. Look at the images of the saints settled on the suspended latches richly adorned with stylized floral motifs.

STATUE OF FAITH, the 19th century (1870), block 5. The German sculptor Johann Halbig (1814/1882) was responsible for the statue on the top of the mausoleum of José Joaquim Gomes d´Argolo, son of Baron of Cajayba. The Faith exhibits a body whose lines are shaped according to the neoclassic beauty. Note the delicacy of the allegory dress folds.

MODERN CHAPEL-TOMB, the 20th century, block B. In 1953 the family of Norberto Odebrecht hired the architect Lina Bo Bardi to design the chapel. One can go up to the roof of the monument – cube form – and have a good view of the construction of Holy Field and the Federal District. This is the most modern and secular work of the place.

KNEELING CHILD , the 19th century. On top of the tomb, the child half-kneeling is sorry for the misfortune of death. We highlight the circular base that contains a series of ornatos carved in Carrara marble that reinforce the eschatologic symbolism referring to the good death. The hourglass, the coiled snake and the candle are covered with festoons of flowers – refined handiwork.

FUNERARY URN, the 19th century, block 5. Antonio Alves de Oliveira was a successful businessman in Salvador. After his death in 1861, the family commissioned this monument in Lisbon. There is a variety of eschatological signs, as reversed pyres, caves, owls, paws of a lion. One should consider the accuracy of the handmade ornaments that compose the decoration of the Urn, installed on the top of the monument.

BORGES, Maria Elizia. Italian Marble Carver Craft in Ribeirão Preto. Belo Horizonte: C/ Arte, 2002.
COSTA, Paulo Segundo da. Holy Field, Historical Summary. Context and Editorial Art Ltd., Salvador, 2003.
MENDES, Cibele de Mattos. Practices and Artistic Representations in the Cemeteries of the Monastery of San Francisco and Venerable Third Order of Carmo- Salvador – 19th Century (1850-1920). Dissertation , (Pos-Graduate in Visual Arts ). Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, 2007.
REIS, João José. Funeral Rites and popular rebellion in Brasil of the 19th century. São Paulo: Carthago Editora, 2000.

Sites:

//www.santacasaba.org.br/campo_santo.php (Acessado em fevereiro de 2008).
//www.santacasaba.org.br/igreja_cimeterio.php (Acessado em fevereiro de 2008).
www.emtursa.salvador.ba.gov.br (Acessado em fevereiro de 2008).
www.funerarianet.com.br (Acessado em fevereiro de 2008).

Credits:

Credits:
- Coordination and Research: Maria Elizia Borges.
- Website design: Catu Design, 2008.
- Photography: Maria Elizia Borges, 2006.
- Website maintenance and Researcher: Adriana M. Gianvechio Carvalho – grant holder CNPq.

Contact:

Contact:
- maelizia@terra.com.br
- Cemitério Campo Santo: Largo do Campo Santo, Bairro da Federação.
- Phone: (71) 3247-0324