Protestant Cemetery, Rome: A Quiet Corner by the Pyramid
The Protestant Cemetery in Rome, properly the Non-Catholic Cemetery or Cimitero Acattolico, is a serene, cypress-shaded burial ground beside the Pyramid of Cestius, where the poets Keats and Shelley lie among quiet garden paths and resident cats. It is one of the city's most peaceful and moving corners.
In Hidden Gems in Rome · Ostiense · Last updated 2 June 2026
- The resting place of the poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Set against the ancient Pyramid of Cestius and the Aurelian Walls
- Cypress avenues, wildflowers and a long-standing community of cats
- Entry by donation, a calm escape a few minutes from the centre
What is the Protestant Cemetery in Rome
Despite the popular name, the Protestant Cemetery is more accurately the Non-Catholic Cemetery for Foreigners, the Cimitero Acattolico. It lies in the Testaccio and Ostiense area, tucked against the Aurelian Walls beside the striking white Pyramid of Cestius, a tomb from the 1st century BC.
For more than three centuries it has been the burial place of non-Catholics who died in Rome, among them artists, writers, diplomats and scholars from around the world. The atmosphere is less a graveyard than a quiet garden, with cypresses, roses and the city's famous cats moving between the stones.
Keats, Shelley and the poets' corner
The cemetery is best known to English-speaking visitors as the resting place of two Romantic poets. John Keats, who died in Rome in 1821, lies under a stone that does not bear his name, only the line he chose, about a name writ in water. The ashes of Percy Bysshe Shelley, who drowned off the Italian coast in 1822, were later buried here too.
Their graves draw a steady trickle of readers, yet the cemetery never feels busy. Many other notable figures rest here as well, and a small visitor centre can point you to the most visited graves.
Visiting respectfully
This is a working cemetery and a place of remembrance, so keep your voice low and your pace slow. Entry is by donation, which helps maintain the grounds and the graves.
Allow about an hour to wander the paths. Combine it with the Pyramid of Cestius right outside and the food stalls of the Testaccio market nearby for a half day well off the tourist trail.
Know before you go
- Leave a donation at the entrance, it keeps this non catholic cemetery in Rome maintained.
- Pick up the small map or guide inside to find the Keats and Shelley graves.
- Keep noise down, it is a place of remembrance as well as a garden.
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Protestant Cemetery (Cimitero Acattolico): frequently asked questions
What is the Protestant Cemetery in Rome?
It is the Non-Catholic Cemetery, or Cimitero Acattolico, beside the Pyramid of Cestius. For centuries it has been the burial place of non-Catholics in Rome, including the poets Keats and Shelley.
Who is buried in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome?
Its most famous graves are the poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Many other writers, artists, diplomats and scholars from around the world are buried there too.
How much does it cost to visit?
Entry to the non-Catholic cemetery in Rome is by donation, which goes towards maintaining the grounds and the historic graves.
What are the opening hours?
It generally opens Monday to Saturday from about 09:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 09:00 to 13:00. Hours can vary with the season, so check before visiting.
How do you get to the Protestant Cemetery in Rome?
Take metro line B to Piramide and walk about five minutes. The cemetery sits beside the Pyramid of Cestius in the Testaccio and Ostiense area.
More hidden gems in Rome
Sources and further reading: Wikipedia: Protestant Cemetery, Rome.