Kiss of death in Barcelona: sculpture at Poblenou Cemetery

A marble skeleton with wings kisses the temple of a dying young man. This is the most famous sculpture in Poblenou Cemetery in Barcelona, and tourists from all over Europe come here just to see it. The "Kiss of Death" (El petó de la mort) has stood on the grave since 1930 (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia).

A tangle of legends has grown up around the gravestone: a dispute over the author, the mystery of the young textile manufacturer's early death, a superstition about a tingling sensation when you touch it. So you don't get lost among the myths, here are only verified facts with sources. At the end there's a practical section on opening hours and how to get there.

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Poblenou Cemetery: the first necropolis outside the walls

💡 In short:

• Poblenou Cemetery was created as the first necropolis outside the walls of Barcelona.
• It was designed by the Italian architect Antonio Ginesi.
• Admission is free, and the cemetery is open every day.
• Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official website.

The first cemetery appeared here in 1775, but Napoleonic troops destroyed it (as of 09/2026, Barcelona Turisme). The current necropolis was rebuilt in 1819 to a design by the Italian architect Antonio Ginesi (as of 09/2026, Cementiris de Barcelona).

Today it is a quiet place covering 52,700 m² with 34,000 graves (as of 09/2026, Cementiris de Barcelona). From the very beginning, the grounds were divided into two parts. One had simple concrete niches for the poor, the other held family vaults for well-off citizens. The gravestones of wealthy families were decorated by the best craftsmen of the time.

© Amadalvarez · CC BY-SAPhoto: Amadalvarez, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

When the city grew, the cemetery was expanded, but the old monuments were left untouched. That's why gravestones from different eras stand side by side here: from neoclassicism to Catalan modernisme. For you, it's a great chance to see the work of sculptors who decorated Barcelona, all in one calm place.

History of the "Kiss of Death" monument

The marble sculpture was commissioned by Josep Llaudet Soler, a textile manufacturer, for the grave of his only son. What the young man died of is not reliably known, and the gravestone was installed in 1930 (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia).

The authorship is still disputed. On the side of the marble there is the signature of Jaume Barba, so he is most often named as the author. Some researchers believe the work was done by Barba's son-in-law, Joan Fontbernat.

Legend adds its own details to the story of the father and son. They say the grief-stricken Josep spent several days by the finished monument and then never visited the grave again. There is no documentary evidence for this story, and it's worth remembering that when someone tells it to you as fact.

At the base of the gravestone are carved lines by the Catalan poet Jacint Verdaguer. The verse speaks of a heart that no longer beats, of blood growing still, and of the kiss of death as a person's final feeling.

How the sculpture is composed

Here death is carved as a skeleton, but the winged figure does not attack; it carefully supports the young man. It does not sink into the body but barely touches his temple. Even the wings work as protection, not as a threat.

The young man has sunk to his knees, his head thrown back, his arms hanging limply along his body. He does not resist and seems to give himself over to this embrace. The pose leaves you uncertain: is it horror, submission, or something close to ecstasy.

The artist chose for Death the image of a bare skeleton with large wings behind its back. He worked out every rib and every bone of the hand. The contrast between the smooth body of the young man and the dry figure of death holds the viewer's attention.

The image of death and two readings

This scene can be interpreted in different ways, and that is its power. On the one hand, death looks almost tender: it supports the young man and takes him without a struggle. On the other hand, the same image reads as cunning.

In the dark version, the skeleton creeps up from behind and, along with the kiss, takes youth and strength. The young man falls to his knees, and death leans over him so that he will not get up again. There is no tenderness here, only a sentence.

The epitaph adds its own note. In the lines on the stone, the young man loses his strength and passes entirely into death's power. You read the text and look at the sculpture at the same time, and the impression only grows stronger.

It is often written that the sculpture inspired Ingmar Bergman's film "The Seventh Seal." There is no direct evidence, but the similarity of the images is obvious: in the director's work, death also walks beside a person and speaks with him.

A separate legend is connected with touching it. They say your hand starts to tingle at the marble, as if from a weak current. The only way to check this is on site, but you still shouldn't touch an old monument.

Barcelona is noisy all around, but on this avenue everything is devoted to a single thought about the brevity of life. The sculpture stands away from the main entrance, so take your time and look around.

Opening hours and how to get there

The cemetery welcomes visitors every day. Opening hours were verified on 13.09.2026 on the official website (as of 09/2026, Cementiris de Barcelona website).

• Address: Avinguda d'Icària, 204, Barcelona (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia about the cemetery).
• Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 18:00 (as of 09/2026, official cemetery page).
• Cost: admission is free, no tickets needed.
• How to get there: the Poblenou district lies between the city center and the sea, and you can easily walk there from the seafront.
• The catch: the cemetery closes at exactly 18:00, so you can't get in during the evening.

It's convenient to reach the entrance by metro to the Poblenou district stations or by tram, which runs along Avinguda d'Icària. From there, keep to the main avenue: the gravestone you're looking for stands deep inside the necropolis, not right by the gates.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Which cemetery is the "Kiss of Death" in?

The sculpture is in Poblenou Cemetery (Cementiri de Poblenou) in Barcelona, in the district between the center and the sea.

How much does it cost to enter Poblenou Cemetery?

Admission is free, no tickets needed. The cemetery is open every day, but not around the clock. See the practical section above for exact opening hours, along with the address and the route from the seafront.

Who is the author of the "Kiss of Death" sculpture?

Jaume Barba is most often named as the author, but some researchers attribute the work to his son-in-law Joan Fontbernat.

Is it true that the sculpture inspired Bergman?

This is often written, but there is no evidence.

Can you touch the sculpture?

Better not to. The marble is almost a century old, and constant touching slowly damages it.

In short: what to book

Poblenou Cemetery has no tickets, so there is nothing to book here except the city around it. If you have half a day in Barcelona, start with the "Kiss of Death" in the morning and give the second half to the Poblenou seafront. For those who want to see more unusual places with a guide, city tours are a good fit: see Barcelona tours on GetYourGuide.