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This unusual museum in the city of Palermo, located on the island of Sicily, can only be described as a cemetery.
The only thing that distinguishes this otherwise unremarkable Capuchin monastery building from an actual graveyard is that the dead are not buried underground—they are displayed above ground. For several centuries, tourists visiting Palermo have made a point of touring the Capuchin Catacombs (Catacombe dei Cappuccini), where more than eight thousand mummies are on public display.
This massive exhibition of mummies attracts immense interest from visitors. The large, somber crypt consists of an extensive network of hallways and corridors, lined with those who died many years ago, embalmed, and later transported here. Some are lying down, others are sitting, standing, or even suspended.
The Capuchin Cemetery is certainly not for the faint-hearted. At times, it feels as if an ancient corpse might suddenly fall on you, snap its teeth, smile, nod—or even break out in eerie laughter.
The history of this underground realm dates back to the 16th century, when the Capuchin monastic order, founded on the Italian peninsula, gained popularity in Sicily. The monks did not wish to be buried far from their monastery, so they decided to establish a cemetery right beneath it.
The first grave appeared at the end of the 17th century. As more “residents” filled the cemetery, additional corridors and passageways were built. The monks soon discovered that the unique air inside the crypt prevented the corpses from decomposing.
As a result, the local elite chose this place as their final resting spot. Under the monastery’s arches, distinguished citizens from Palermo and surrounding areas were interred, their bodies carefully dried and dressed. Burial activities ceased by the end of the 19th century, by which time eight thousand islanders had found their final resting place in the catacombs.
The last person interred was a two-year-old girl, Rosalia Lombardo, who died of pneumonia in the 1920s. Following her father’s request, she was embalmed by local doctor Alfredo Salafia.
Rosalia Lombardo remains one of the most famous mummies in the Capuchin Catacombs: nearly a century has passed, and her body remains almost perfectly preserved. To this day, it looks as if the child is simply sleeping inside her glass coffin. Her hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes have remained intact. Some museum guards even claim that they have occasionally seen her briefly open her eyes.
The condition of the small body raised doubts among many experts. However, once it was examined through X-rays, doctors and scientists were stunned. Those who had claimed that the museum displayed a doll immediately withdrew their statements: modern equipment confirmed not only that a little girl rested in the glass coffin, but also revealed that all her organs were in perfect condition. The formula for such embalming has long been known. Rosalia was transformed into a mummy using alcohol, salicylic acid, glycerin, and other components, which were injected directly into her bloodstream. In honor of the little girl, the chapel within the monastery was renamed.
All the mummies buried beneath the Capuchin Monastery are organized according to the status they held during life, as well as by gender, profession, and other classifications. Here, you will find the Hall of Virgins, the Children’s Hall, the Hall of Married Couples, and many other chambers.
The Capuchin Catacombs have been mentioned by renowned Spanish, Italian, and French writers, helping to make the museum widely known throughout Europe.
However, not only tourists visit the catacombs—descendants of those interred in the crypt beneath the monastery also come here. Museum caretakers strictly prohibit photography, as taking pictures could negatively impact the condition of the mummified remains.
How to Get There, Opening Hours, Tickets
This extraordinary museum is located in Palermo at Piazza Cappuccini (Piazza Cappuccini, 1) and welcomes visitors from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM for a small fee. Admission to the mummy museum costs just €5 (about $5.35).
The official website of the museum is www.catacombefraticappuccini.com, and here is their Facebook page.