NEWS from the Friends of the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome

The Friends of the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome was launched on May 25, 2006.

The inaugural event took place in the “Parte Antica” of the Cemetery, on a beautiful Spring evening marked by a pleasant breeze and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow.  Speakers included two representatives of the Comune di Roma, Gianni Borgna (Assessore alla Cultura) and Franca Coen (Responsabile della Consulta multietnica per le Religioni), as well as Minny Augeri, Director of the Cemetery, and three members of the Advisory Committee, led by Flemming Stender of the Danish Embassy. Local poets read from the poetry of Keats, Shelley, and their own work. About 100 people attended, and about a third of these became Friends on the spot.  Since then, others have joined them, so that we now have over 60 members, including Friends from northern Europe, the United States, and Australia.

How will Friends’ contributions be spent? 

One urgent problem will be addressed in the Autumn of 2006: the effects of soil subsidence in the western part of the Cemetery, not far from the tomb of Antonio Gramsci.  The sinking of the ground is noticeable and has already caused some monuments to collapse. An engineering firm will be hired to survey the extent of the problem and suggest solutions. 

Other funds will be used for ongoing preventive conservation and horticultural maintenance.  We plan to add more multi-lingual information to this website in the near future. We also hope that normal hours may resume for the Visitors’ Centre this coming year, and that Sunday opening hours may also be restored soon.

If you are already a Friend, thank you!  If you are not yet a Friend, please join us!  Print the membership form, fill it out and mail it with your contribution. There is a membership category for every income level, so please give whatever you can afford.

You can also volunteer your time to help the Cemetery. Volunteers do everything from stuffing envelopes to helping with horticultural maintenance, entering computer data, or running special events and tours.  We especially need people who are willing to donate time on Sundays.  If you have a special skill, or just want to help, please contact Heather Munro, Co-ordinator of Volunteers, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or 333.3092201.