Benidorm's cemeteries are ready for All Saints' Day celebrations

The two cemeteries in Benidorm, Verge del Sofratge and Sant Jaume, are ready to receive the large influx of visitors expected this Saturday, November 1st, for All Saints' Day, as well as in the days leading up to and following the holiday. Therefore, as every year, the City Council has intensified the maintenance and improvement work carried out throughout the year at both cemeteries.

The Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, accompanied by the Councillor for Cemeteries, Jaime Jesús Pérez, several members of the City Council, and residents, visited both cemeteries this morning. He emphasised the work being done in recent days to "ensure the appropriate infrastructure is in place for the large number of visitors expected at both cemeteries and to make access to both as comfortable and efficient as possible."

To this end, both cemeteries have implemented special opening hours, running from today, Wednesday, until Sunday, November 2nd. During this time, both will be open continuously from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. "We know these are very important dates, which bring many visitors to Benidorm, so we are trying to offer sufficiently long opening hours so that people can visit without overcrowding and with all the facilities we can provide," the mayor emphasised.

Regarding specific improvements carried out at the cemeteries, in addition to the usual repairs and maintenance, Toni Pérez explained that the Sant Jaume Cemetery has had its capacity increased by 40 niches, with another 176 to be added shortly, representing a total investment of nearly €242,000. Accessibility has also been improved on three main roads by implementing a single-level platform to facilitate movement for people with reduced mobility; eight new perforated metal benches have been installed, representing an investment of approximately €2,500; and a new section of the cemetery wall has been built to accommodate the N332 road access.

At the Verge del Sofratge Cemetery, a section of San Lucas Street and the handrails on the central staircase have been renovated in recent months. In addition, among other improvements, the pergolas in the central plaza have been repaired; thirty new holders for brooms, mops, and other commonly used tools have been installed; and fountains, planters, and other features have been repainted.

Expansion works

Regarding the Sant Jaume cemetery, Mayor Toni Pérez reiterated the investments made in recent years to increase the number of niches, as well as the completed expansion works, representing an investment of nearly €3.5 million, which will double the cemetery's surface area. Specifically, this project, whose urbanisation phase is now complete, will double the cemetery's area, increasing from the current 41,780 square meters to a total of 91,248 square meters, and will include new, much-needed services. The mayor noted that, with this expansion, "we are covering the burial needs of our city for at least the next three decades."

Toni Pérez also highlighted the progress of the municipal funeral home construction, "a service that was already much needed and in demand in our city," which will also include a crematorium. Similarly, the new expansion area also includes burial grounds for other faiths.

“We continue to invest in something that concerns us and matters to us,” concluded the mayor, who added that all the works carried out in this area are “well-thought-out and much-needed projects that treat our cemeteries with great care and attention.”

Special services

On the other hand, the Councillor for Cemeteries reminded everyone of the extended opening hours and special services that the City Council has implemented to facilitate travel and access to the cemeteries. He also announced that access to Sant Jaume Cemetery from l’Assagador de Ricardo, which was temporarily closed due to the construction of the Vial Discotecas (Nightclub Road), has now been fully reopened to traffic. Therefore, residents travelling to this cemetery in their own vehicles can do so either via this road or from the access road from the industrial park, which remains operational.

Jaime Jesús Pérez indicated that the enhanced special urban bus service began this Monday and will continue until Sunday, the 2nd. Specifically, from Monday the 27th to Wednesday the 30th, a bus will depart from Avenida Jaime I near the Hotel Bonanza at 9:15 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., the bus will depart from the stop on Avenida del Mediterráneo closest to Plaza de la Hispanidad. The return trip from Sant Jaume Cemetery will be at 12:00 p.m. The frequency of this bus will be increased on October 31st and November 2nd, with departures from the same Jaime I stop at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.; and from the Avenida del Mediterráneo stop at 10:40 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 4:40 p.m., and 5:40 p.m. The service from the cemetery will be at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.

Regarding Saturday, November 1st, All Saints' Day, buses will depart from the Jaime I stop at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, and 14:30, as well as at 15:30, 16:30, and 17:30. From the Mediterráneo stop, the same routes will depart, but 10 minutes later: 9:40, 10:40, 11:40, 12:40, 13:40, 14:40, 15:40, 16:40, and 17:40. Return buses from the Cemetery will run during peak hours, between 10:00 and 18:00.

The councillor also indicated that the opening hours of both cemeteries will be extended to facilitate access for citizens who wish to tend to niches and visit their deceased loved ones. Thus, from today until Sunday, November 2nd, both cemeteries will be open continuously from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Finally, Pérez announced that Masses for All Saints' Day will take place on Saturday, November 1st, at the Sant Jaume Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. and at the Verge del Sofratge Cemetery at 5:00 p.m. Likewise, on November 2nd, All Souls' Day, there will also be two Masses at both cemeteries, both at 5:00 p.m.