Capuchin Catacombs Walking Tour

The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo were originally created as a burial place for the monks of the convent, and their current form is, in many ways, the result of chance.

In 1534, the Capuchin Friars settled near the Church of Santa Maria della Pace. To bury their brothers, they dug a communal grave beneath the altar of Saint Anne — a cistern-like pit where the deceased, wrapped in a shroud, were lowered from above.

Before long, the pit was no longer sufficient. In 1597, the Friars decided to create a larger cemetery. Behind the high altar, they began excavating what would become the Catacombs — a term first used in a Papal Decree of 380 AD to describe any underground cemetery. By 1599, the new space was ready.

When the Friars transferred the remains of those buried in the first pit, they discovered something extraordinary: forty-five bodies had been naturally mummified, preserved almost perfectly. From the 17th to the 19th century, thousands of people — especially nobles and prominent figures — entrusted their loved ones to the Capuchins. In exchange for generous donations, families could ensure the preservation of the bodies through the friars’ perfected mummification process, and even have them displayed inside the Catacombs.

This practice was not only about preserving the body after death — it also gave families the chance to “visit” their loved ones, to see them and feel that they remained part of the living world.

✨ Discover this extraordinary and hauntingly fascinating place with us in Palermo!