La Apacheta, the historic cemetery of Arequipa that houses more than 200 thousand graves

The Apacheta General Cemetery stands out as one of the most iconic cemeteries in Arequipa. Recognized as an important element of cultural heritage, this place rises over 130 thousand square meters and offers the opportunity to disseminate cultural wealth not only among the inhabitants of Peru, but also internationally. Around 200 thousand people are buried there, where stones are piled up and which represents the separation of two paths: the world and the afterlife. La Apacheta was believed to be one of the oldest cemeteries in the city, but this belief turned out to be incorrect. In fact, throughout the 18th century, there was a well-known cemetery in the Miraflores area. However, due to the increase in the number of deaths during that period, this cemetery became saturated, which led to the search for a new place away from the city to avoid being a danger to the health of the citizens. It was in 1825 when the construction of the general cemetery began, by order of Simón Bolívar. This work is considered one of the most significant of the 19th century.

History

Mortuary space inaugurated on September 16, 1833 (El Republicano, Arequipa, volume 8, no. 38, September 21, 1833, p. 5), being the oldest cemetery in Arequipa in function. Its construction began in 1825 by order of Simón Bolívar due to the need for an adequate mortuary space for the city, since the old Miraflores cemetery (of colonial origin) was insufficient. Likewise, the abuse of burials near churches contributed to the development of local epidemics (Gaceta del Gobierno, Lima, volume 7, no. 48, May 26, 1825, p. 2). Although the Miraflores one was formally closed upon the inauguration of La Apacheta, it continued to operate for several more years (Zegarra, 1973, p. 87; Quiroz, 1990, p. 459). It received this name in honor of the battle of La Apacheta (November 9, 1814), although it was also called the General Cemetery of Arequipa. His first burial was the Arequipa hero Mariano Melgar, who died in 1815 and whose remains were transferred in 1833 from the chapel of Santiago in Umachiri at the initiative of the prefect general Juan José Salas. However, in the middle of the last century the culture commission of the Municipality of Arequipa revealed that the bones buried in La Apacheta belonged to 6 different people. At present, the original location of the remains is unknown (Huanca, 2021). Other representative figures who have been buried in the cemetery are: the presidents Pedro Diez Canseco Corbacho and Eduardo López de Romaña, the archbishop and also president Francisco Mariano Holguín Maldonado, the father of Peruvian psychiatry Honorio F. Delgado, among others.

The mystery of the 'White City' cemetery

Every day of the full moon, the Public Charity of Arequipa organizes night walks for lovers of the occult and the supernatural. One of the most popular mysteries revolves around the figure of Monica “the condemned”, a woman dressed in white with a leather jacket. According to urban legend, this enigmatic woman hides in the corridors of the cemetery in order to seduce young people who go out at night. Subsequently, she seizes some of her victim's clothing, which is later found in the mysterious woman's tomb. Another popular story revolves around the Lira family, a pyramid-shaped mausoleum with Egyptian iconography. The entrance to this tomb is guarded by a woman and a sphinx with blank eyes. A member of this family practiced witchcraft and when she died, her relatives built this building with Egyptian icons to protect her spirit. This tour ends in the pavilion of the excommunicated, people who committed suicide and were separated by the Catholic Church.

The murderer turned saint

Throughout the 20th century, a crowd gathered near the men's prison to witness an event that would mark history as the last recorded execution in Peru. The protagonist of this story was Víctor Apaza Quispe, husband of Agustina Belisario Capacoyla, a man who from an early age had shown deep religious devotion. However, one day, obsessed with the sins of others, he lost his mind and made the tragic decision to end her wife's life by hitting her on the head with a rock. After a lengthy judicial process that lasted more than two years, the murderer was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by firing squad. His remains rest in a niche in the San Hilarión pavilion of the general cemetery of La Apacheta. Despite the conviction, voices still persisted that maintained his innocence, which could explain the presence of more than two thousand people who accompanied the funeral procession to his final resting place. Over the years, Apaza Quispe's remains became an object of veneration by the inhabitants of Arequipa, who began to visit his tomb regularly. In addition to flowers, they left various gifts as a sign of his devotion.

Illustrious figures buried in La Apacheta

One of the most important mausoleums in the cemetery houses the remains of various important figures in the history of Peru. Mariano Melgar Valdivieso: A martyr of national independence and a romantic poet famous for his passionate love for Silvia, he is considered the most emblematic figure of Arequipa. He was executed by firing squad in Umachiri. It was believed that his remains had been moved to Arequipa and buried in La Apacheta in 1833. However, over time it was proven that the remains in the urn were believed to be his, but in fact did not belong to him. Horacio Zevallos Games: Originally from Moquegua, this individual played a crucial role in the creation of the Single Union of Teachers of Arequipa, known as SUPRA. His outstanding union career led him to be elected as the first General Secretary of the Single Union of Education Workers of Peru (SUTEP) during the National Unification Congress of 1972, marking the beginning of a new phase of strengthening unionism in the community. Peruvian education. He actively participated in the mobilizations seeking improvements in the quality of education. Luis Duncker Lavalle: The figure of Duncker Lavalle represents a crucial point in the musical evolution of Peru, standing out for his contribution to the Peruvian profile of romantic lyricism. His importance lies in his ability to express this musical style in a still conservative cultural environment, which, paradoxically, underlined the authenticity and local uniqueness of his work in a natural and genuine way.

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