Before heading south to Sighișoara, Transylvania, we made a quick pit stop in Săpânţa - home to one of the most brightly-colored and, dare I say, happiest cemeteries we've ever visited - The Merry Cemetery. Even the bells are cheery.
See if you can spy a gnome in the midst.
BLURB FROM WIKIPEDIA:
It is famous for its colorful tombstones with naive paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the persons that are buried there, as well as scenes from their lives (and sometimes deaths).
The unusual feature of this cemetery is that it diverges from the prevalent belief, culturally shared within European societies – a belief that views death as something indelibly solemn. Connections with the local Dacian culture have been made. Their philosophical tenets presumably vouched for the immortality of the soul and the belief that death was a moment filled with joy and anticipation for a better life.
Interesting!
ReplyDeleteI saw that on Bourdain! Cool
ReplyDeleteThis is all so very interesting, so nice that you can experience all of this. Hey little gnome, I spotted you right away. LOL
ReplyDeleteThis is by far the most colorful and cheerful cemetery we have ever seen. Love the bells and the gnome wandering through them!!
ReplyDeleteI vant to go here vhen it is my time to kick the bucket. Vhat a great vay to turn a grim experience into something vonderful!
ReplyDelete