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Tomba di Carlo Pedersoli-Bud Spencer
The gentle giant rests beneath a simple stone here, where marble monuments tower all around... yet this modest grave draws more visitors than tombs of senators and princes. Carlo Pedersoli—the world knew him as Bud Spencer—chose his stage name in 1967 from an unlikely pair: Spencer Tracy's elegance and Budweiser's working-class charm. Before he threw punches on screen in over 130 films, this Neapolitan swimmer broke Italian records in the pool during the 1950s, his massive frame slicing through water with surprising grace. He died on June 27th, 2016, at eighty-seven, and hundreds filled the streets to say goodbye. Italy's Prime Minister tweeted simply, "We have loved so much." The irony sits heavy here in Campo Verano, where burial has been restricted since the 1960s—reserved only for those who brought honor to Rome or the world. This cemetery, spreading across 83 hectares since Napoleon's Edict of Saint-Cloud demanded burials outside city walls in 1807, became Bud's final stage. Every day, fans from Hungary to Brazil make pilgrimage to Piazzale del Verano, leaving flowers and Budweiser cans at the tomb of the man who taught generations that strength and gentleness could live in the same enormous heart.
Did You Know?
- Bud Spencer, born Carlo Pedersoli, was not only a beloved Italian film icon but also an accomplished athlete who represented Italy in swimming at two Olympic Games, a certified commercial pilot, and a holder of several patents—making his tomb a site of tribute not just to cinematic history, but to a Renaissance man whose talents spanned sports, science, and aviation.
- The tomb is located in Rome’s historic Campo Verano cemetery, a monumental open-air museum with tombs ranging from Neoclassical to Art Nouveau styles, known for its enamel funerary portraits painted on lava by artist Filippo Severati—though it’s not publicly documented if Bud Spencer’s tomb features such art, the cemetery itself is a treasure trove of Italian funerary art and architecture.
- Bud Spencer’s funeral in 2016 was attended by hundreds, including family, friends, and fans, and drew tributes from Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and international stars like Russell Crowe, reflecting his status as a cultural icon whose gentle-giant persona resonated far beyond Italy’s borders.