You wait next to the grave of the dead composer. A raven caws. A shadowy black cat blinks in and out of the murk. Did that spectral statue move? "Maybe joining this Rosicrucian conspiracy was not such a good idea after all", you think. But you definitely regret agreeing to meet the monk with the scar at two in the morning in Certosa Cemetery.
It's Halloween time again, and what better way to celebrate than to explore the European Cemeteries Route, one of the Council of Europe's Cultural Routes. The routes are journeys in space and in time, built by grassroots networks promoting human rights, cultural democracy, cultural diversity, mutual understanding and exchanges across boundaries.
In the case of the cemeteries' route, it criss-crosses 22 countries of our continent, highlighting the sacral and memorial qualities of these resting places, making them come alive. They are an essential part of our rich heritage, history, and collective memory. From artists and scientists to revolutionaries and national heroes, in the graveyard all human life - and death - is here.
Each stop on the route is an experience on its own, whether you want to pretend to be an Umberto Eco character who foolishly arranged to meet in a cemetery at night, or want to literally walk through local and national history, or just want a good scare. These places often have wonderful sculptures, engravings or other works, or can provide insight into the habits and practices related to death. They offer unique settings for part of our historical memories, which we have a duty to preserve and transmit to future generations.
On 30 October a conference was held in Malta, highlighting the rich heritage, history, and collective memory preserved in the 49 unique certified cultural routes. You can trace the steps of the Vikings, learn about Europe's incredible ceramics tradition, or even travel by bicycle along the Iron Curtain, which cruelly divided Europe for much of the twentieth century.
Culture nurtures democracy, and democracy nurtures culture. Figuring out how we can use culture to strengthen democracy - a core goal of the Council of Europe's New Democratic Pact for Europe, which recognises the important role of culture in fostering pluralism, in countering democratic backsliding, in civic engagement and human rights - is important. Visiting and appreciating the diversity apparent in Europe's cultural routes, but also that they form part of our shared culture, is exhilarating and promotes understanding.
As Mr Eco said in The Name of the Rose:
"The beauty of the universe consists not only of unity in variety, but also of variety in unity."
New Democratic Pact for Europe
