New Orleans Lafayette Cemetery No. 1

The above-ground tombs in New Orleans cemeteries are often referred to as "cities of the dead." Enter the cemetery gates, and you will be greeted by rusty decorative ironwork and blinded by sun-bleached tombs. Crosses and statues jutting from tomb surfaces cast contrasting shadows, adding to the sense of mystery. Votive candles line tombs on holidays, reminding you that the dead have living relatives who still care.

Because the city of New Orleans is built on a swamp, the deceased have to be buried above ground here in elaborate stone crypts and mausoleums. Over time the cemeteries, with elaborate sculptures and other decorative artwork embellishing the tombs, have come to come to resemble small villages - the "Cities of the Dead."

Along with Spanish moss and lacy iron balconies, the cities of the dead are part of the indelible landscape of 'The Big Easy'. For many years, Nola's cemeteries were in shambles. Crypts lay open, exposing their pitiful contents - if they weren't robbed of them - bricks, shattered marble tablets, even bones, lay strewn around. Several of the worst eyesores have been cleaned up, though others still remain in deplorable shape.

© CT-Graphics - Christine Till

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