Sebastiani-mauzóleum

The Sebastiani mausoleum was one of the large tomb monuments in the Fiumei út cemetery in Budapest.

History

At the fences of the new cemetery opened in 1849, false‑tomb shops were established, where typically wealthy and/or famous people were buried.

Four large mausoleums were erected at the four corners of the cemetery, one of which was the Sebastiani mausoleum built on the north‑west corner (false‑tomb shops, B52). The Sebastiani family originated from the island of Corsica and, through trade, amassed a considerable fortune by the 1870s. Their mausoleum was the first built among the four corner mausoleums, and it is the only one that can be linked to the urban elite of the period before the Austro‑Hungarian Monarchy (1867–1918).

The Sebastiani mausoleum has been out of use for decades, and even its door has been walled up. Photographs of its interior testify that its walls may once have been richly decorated, but over time these also fell into ruin. On each side of the mausoleum a column stands in memory of József Gerenda and Ernestina Jordán.

Since 2013 the entire cemetery has been under heritage protection, including the false‑tomb shops. Beyond the general provisions, Annex 2 to decree 42/2013. (VIII. 9.) BM also specifically mentions the Sebastiani mausoleum.