Cemeteries have always accompanied humanity. The appearance and scale of the cemeteries has changed over the course of the historical process, but one thing remains unchanged - they are adjacent to human settlements in one form or another. The accelerated process of urbanization with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution led to the rapid growth of cities. This led to the absorption of cemeteries by cities and smaller settlements. Cemeteries are surrounded by an urban environment and are excluded from it. They are silent witnesses of the past, who have lost the functions of burial places. This article analyzes the history of the development of public cemeteries in St. Petersburg in the 17th-20th centuries in the context of a single cultural European space. The analysis of the evolution of the imagery perception of the cemetery over time and in relation to the territorial development of the city is carried out. The types of cemeteries that are formed and existed during this period are identified; the relationship between the types is established, as well as the influence of social and cultural trends on the formation of these types. Based on the study, conclusions are drawn about the feasibility of using the derived typology as a basis for the revitalization of historical cemeteries in Russia. In addition, the possibility of using European experience when working with this type of territory is established.