in Brazil, the important mausoleum where Pelé rests has welcomed its first visitors

For the first time, admirers were able to visit, Monday, May 15, the mausoleum where rests the remains of the Brazilian Pelé, who died on December 29, 2022 from colon cancer. The final resting place of the ‘King’, who died aged 82, is in a ‘vertical graveyard’ in Santos, less than a kilometer from the city club’s stadium, where he played during the essential to his career and built his legend. The father, brother and one of the daughters of the legendary number 10 also rest in this place.

“We still feel a lot of pain, a lot of nostalgia, but also a lot of pride and joy in front of all the marks of tenderness and respect he receives”, explained to AFP, Edinho, one of the six children of Pelé, very moved, during the opening to the public. The legend’s body now lies in a shiny golden coffin, adorned with a cross. On the sides, two black panels represent the thousandth goal that Pelé had celebrated with his fist in the air. For now, only 60 people can visit the Brazilian’s mausoleum each day, although Santos hopes to make the vertical cemetery a tourist spot.

A record “vertical cemetery”

According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the highest cemetery in the world thanks to its 14 floors. The mausoleum specially designed for Pelé extends over 200 m² and is reminiscent of a football stadium, with its synthetic turf and photos of the triple world champion. Access is via a two-meter-wide corridor decorated with photos of the old “number 10”.

The extraordinary necropolis, surrounded by generous nature, looks like a grand hotel from the outside, with its white facade. It offers 18,000 graves to accommodate the coffins of the deceased and a columbarium for the urns containing the ashes.