Why is it that cemeteries are so often associated with ghosts? Is it because we have been heavily influenced by movies and books wherein ghosts and ghouls roam amongst the crypts and headstones of graveyards? Or, perhaps, over the years, we have been exposed to local, oral traditions that speak of the haunted places. Regardless of the origins, the simple fact remains that when people think of cemeteries, they often think of ghosts.

One of the most famous haunted cemeteries outside of the United States and Europe is La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Housing over 6,000 souls , the graveyard is comprised mostly of large, ornate mausoleums. The crypts are decorated with flowers, busts, and even full-sized statues of their occupants. And, sometimes, in the quiet moments, those statues—and the interred corpses within—have been the only other occupants present when visitors heard noises echoing through the passageways.

Of course, as with all haunted places, legends abound, directing attentive listeners’ minds to both exciting and dreadful accounts. One such legend, and definitely the most famous from La Recoleta Cemetery, is that of Rufina Cambaceres. She was preparing for an evening out, when she had a seizure. Not long after, she was confirmed deceased by doctors. She was placed in a casket and prepared for burial.

The story takes a spooky turn when, later, someone noticed that the coffin lid was slightly ajar. After removing the lid, investigators found clear evidence that Rufina had been buried alive! Claw marks from her own hands, as well as her own dried blood in the coffin, showed that she had awoken from death—or perhaps a misdiagnosis—in her tomb. Rufina is purported to be one of the ghosts that haunt the famed cemetery.

Other stories are easy to find, and each has its own unique, creepy twists that are sure to excite anyone interested in the supernatural. This is not unique to one cemetery, though. Whether a person is visiting La Recoleta or any of the other seemingly countless graveyards in the world, it is easy to feel a sudden chill course down one’s spine when in the presence of the dead. After all, cemeteries are designated for the dead, and, who knows, maybe the dead actively roam their territory more than we think.