Bonaventure Cemetery

Welcome to Bonaventure Cemetery, a place where time seems to slow down under the weight of the Spanish moss. You are currently standing on a scenic bluff overlooking the Wilmington River in Savannah, Georgia. The name Bonaventure comes from the Italian words buona ventura, meaning good fortune, a name given to this land when it was first established as a private plantation in seventeen sixty. As you begin your walk, notice how the massive live oak trees form a natural cathedral over the pathways. These trees were planted over two hundred and fifty years ago by the original owners, spaced exactly fifteen feet apart to create the grand avenues you see today. This is not just a graveyard; it is a masterpiece of the Victorian Garden movement, designed to be as much a park for the living as a resting place for the dead. Take a deep breath and let the scent of the salt marsh and azaleas prepare you for a journey through Savannah’s deep and layered history.