222 Cemeteries to See Before You Die - by Loren Rhoads (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Perfect for budding cemetery armchair travelers and serious taphophiles, this hauntingly beautiful guide to the world's most interesting and unusual cemeteries has been revised and updated to include 23 additional locations.

Every year, millions of tourists flock to cemeteries around the globe to uncover hidden stories of their residents and admire the incredible architecture, stunning landscapes, and even wildlife in these open-air museums.

In this lavishly photographic bucket list of the world's most interesting cemeteries, author Loren Rhoads, who hosts the popular Cemetery Travel blog, details the history, eye-catching monuments, and other fascinating finds that make each destination unique. Entries include unforgettable cemeteries such as the Mount Koya cemetery in Japan, where 10,000 lanterns illuminate the forest setting; Savannah's Bonaventure Cemetery which hosts gorgeous night tours of the Southern Gothic tombstones under moss-covered trees; and Il Cimitero Acattolico in Rome that is the final resting place of young poets John Keats and Percy Shelley.

Whether you are a true taphophile (cemetery enthusiast) who seeks out obscure locations or a tourist who likes to incorporate not-to-be-missed cemeteries like Paris's Pere Lachaise and Arlington National Cemetery into your itinerary, 222 Cemeteries to See Before You Die is both a useful trip-planning tool and a browser's delight.

Review Quotes

"Filled with beautiful examples of posthumous humor, astonishing artistry, and natural settings that rival the world's best parks. A much-needed book for the curious explorer and budding taphophile (cemetery-lover) alike."--Dylan Thuras, Co-Founder, Atlas Obscura

"Rhoads delivers an exceptional travel guide of many of the world's most distinctive cemeteries...This excellent title is chock-full of fascinating tidbits about graves, burial grounds, mausoleums, and more."--Library Journal

"[Author Loren Rhoads details] burial spots around the globe, sprinkling in history and trivia that runs from the hilarious to bone-chilling. . . Halloween gift-givers take note."--Spud Hilton, San Francisco Chronicle

"[A] guide to checking out the hereafter before you check out."--John Williams, The New York Times

"For the macabre-minded traveler, Rhoads' guide takes you through the most awe-inspiring graveyards in the world."--Entertainment Weekly

About the Author

Loren Rhoads is the author of Wish You Were Here: Adventures in Cemetery Travel and the editor of Death's Garden Revisited: Personal Relationships with Cemeteries and Morbid Curiosity Cures the Blues: True Tales of the Unsavory, Unwise, Unorthodox and Unusual. She has served as a cemetery consultant for AAA, Travel & Leisure, The Weather Channel, Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, the Horror Writers Association, the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, and more. Her well-trafficked blog, Cemetery Travel, details her firsthand visits. She lives in San Francisco, where there are no active cemeteries.