Capuchin Crypt Tours

The Capuchin Crypt was once thought of as one of Rome's more offbeat attractions, but it has become increasingly popular and is now on many a must-see list. Underneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, there is a series of six small chapels that serve as the burial chambers for Capuchin friars. These are no ordinary graves, however. There were more friars to be buried in the crypt's sacred soil – brought directly from Jerusalem – than there was space, so older graves were dug up and the bones of the dead monks were used to decorate the chapel walls.
Today, visitors can still see the incredibly intricate designs adorning the walls and curved ceilings of the chapels. A sign in the last chapel reminds us that we are just as the occupants of these chapels once were – and we will eventually be just like them, too. It's a slightly macabre stop, not necessarily recommended for children or the squeamish, but it's also not meant to be like a haunted house. This is a sacred burial space, treated with respect by the people who buried their dead here.

Practical Info

The Santa Maria della Concezione church is on Via Veneto, not far from Piazza Barberini. The Capuchin Crypt is underneath the church with its own designated entrance. The crypt and museum are open Friday-Wednesday from 9am-7pm. Admission is €6, including both the crypt and the museum, and there is no photography allowed in the crypt.