Yesterday, Marcelo told us the story of Rufina Cambaceres – a young lady who was mistakenly pronounced dead on her 19th birthday and buried alive. He drew a map and said it one grave not to be missed.

In the evenening on her 19th birthday, her parents found they could not wake her up. The doctor came over, and pronounced her dead. At those times - about hundreds years ago, it was customary to be buried the next day, as embalming was not yet done here. Tragically for Rufina, the burial turned out to be premature, apparently she suffered an attack of catalepsy that was not recognized by doctors. Rufina was buried, and her coffin was sealed, until a few days later, her uncle noticed that the huge slab was askew. Thinking itw as grave robbers, he ordered
the tomb to be re-opened, but unfortunately it was too late. There ewre scratch marks on her face, and on the coffin, but she could not free herself and she died.

The beautiful white-marble mausoleum with Rufina’s life-size statue standing in front of the crypt and trying to open the crypt’s door captures the attention of visitors. She looks like she is about to break into tears, a feeling often shared by all of us who visit her.