Capuchin Catacombs

One of the most famous sights in Palermo - albeit an incredibly macabre one - is the extensive network of Catacombs under the Capuchin Monastery. These crypts hold thousands of mummified remains, some of which are spookily well-preserved.

The Capuchins began burying their own friars in the crypts underneath the monastery in the 16th century, and they soon discovered that the unique conditions in the catacombs - combined with their own burial traditions - preserved the bodies extremely well. It wasn’t long before Sicilians decided that being buried in the Capuchin Catacombs - and therefore being preserved after death - was a status symbol.

In total, there are more than 8,000 bodies interred in Palermo’s Capuchin Catacombs, in varying states of preservation and from all walks of life. There are chambers dedicated to priests, monks, women, men, and children. Some are still encased in coffins, some are perched in standing positions on the walls overlooking the tourists below.

One of the last bodies to be placed in the Capuchin Catacombs is also the most famous - two-year-old Rosalia Lombardo looks today as if she was just put down for a nap, although she’s been dead since 1920.

Practical Info

The hallways of the catacombs are dark and often slightly humid (the air feels very close, no matter what season it is), and it may not be a suitable attraction for everyone - especially children or anyone who’s claustrophobic.