The Cementerio Presbítero Matías Maestro is a cemetery in
Lima
Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of ...
, the capital city of
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
. It is also a museum, though attempts to make it a museum exclusively have failed. The architectural styles of the mausoleums found within are broad ranging. It houses the remains of several important political, military and literary figures. Most prominent of all the mausoleums is the ''Panteón de los Próceres'' where heroes of the
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific ( es, link=no, Guerra del Pacífico), also known as the Saltpeter War ( es, link=no, Guerra del salitre) and by multiple other names, was a war between Chile and a Bolivian–Peruvian alliance from 1879 to 1884. Fought ...
(1879–1884) are buried. The mausoleum's entrance reads "La Nación a sus Defensores" (Meaning "The Nation, to its Defenders").
History
The cemetery was founded around 1807, thanks to the efforts of the priest Matías Maestro. This multifaceted man, born in
Vitoria
Vitoria or Vitória may refer to :
People
* Francisco de Vitoria (c. 1483–1546), a Spanish Renaissance theologian
* Alberto Vitoria (1956–2010), Spanish footballer
* Rui Vitória (born 1970), Portuguese retired footballer
* Steven Vitória (b ...
(Spain) in 1776, came to Peru by the end of the 18th century to start a new business. In 1793, he became a Catholic Priest and since then he dedicated himself to “renewing” the churches and altarpieces with the latest fashion style: Neoclassical. He became General Director of Lima's Public Beneficence Society in 1826 and died on January 7, 1835.
External links
Conoce más sobre el cementerio Presbítero Maestro. Puntoedu PUCP, 21.11.2012*
ttps://web.archive.org/web/20080604164844/http://www.larepublica.com.pe/content/view/223829/592/ 200 años entre los vivos. La República, 31.5.2008Presbítero Maestro: 200 años de historia. Programa TV Domingo al Día, 30.5.2008En la caja oscuraA series of photographs of the Cementerio Presbítero Matías Maestro
{{DEFAULTSORT:Presbitero Maestro
Cemeteries in Peru
Buildings and structures in Lima
Neoclassical architecture in Peru
Museums in Lima
Tourist attractions in Lima