Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, Havana

The beauty and magnificence of this cemetery has made it famous throughout the Latin American continent. Established in 1876, it holds nearly a million graves, many of whose headstones have been embellished by major Cuban sculptors such as Ramos Blancos, among others. The Afro-Cuban religious practice of, "santería" is common throughout the island, and this cemetery is no exception; thus it is not unusual to find colorfully dressed rag-dolls lying next to the graves, placed as offerings to one or other deity. And a popular local legend tells the story of the Milagrosa or Miraculous Lady, who died in childbirth along with her infant; although they had originally been buried separately, both were found–some time later–lying in the same grave, now a shrine for devout Catholics.