Unusual and admittedly ghoulish, the Catacombe dei Cappuccini is one of Palermo’s most unique sites. These catacombs offer a macabre yet fascinating glimpse into the past. They serve as an extraordinary historical record.
Let’s delve into the story behind this eerie yet captivating place. In the 16th century the Capuchin monastery’s cemetery became overcrowded. Instead of expanding the burial grounds, the monks decided to excavate crypts beneath. When Brother Silvestro of Gubbio died, they mummified him. The monks wanted to continue praying with him. This marked the beginning of the Catacombe dei Cappuccini.
Initially, the catacombs were only for deceased friars. Over time, being entombed here became a status symbol. Local luminaries requested preservation in their wills. They specified clothing and even regular changes of attire. Priests wore vestments. Others dressed in contemporary fashion. Families visited to pray and maintain the bodies.
Bodies underwent dehydration on ceramic pipes. Some were washed with vinegar. Embalming and sealed glass cabinets were also used. Friars were preserved in everyday clothing, sometimes with their penance ropes. The catacombs thrived on donations from relatives. New bodies occupied temporary niches before permanent placement. Contributions ensured the body remained. Lack of payment meant removal to a shelf.
Brother Riccardo was the last friar interred in 1871. The catacombs officially closed in 1880. Still, burials continued into the 1920s and 1930s. Rosalia Lombardo, nearly two, remains remarkably intact. Professor Alfredo Salafia preserved her using formalin, alcohol, glycerin, salicylic acid, and zinc salts. Giovanni Licata di Baucina, Count of Isnello, had the final burial in 1939.
The Catacombe dei Cappuccini hold around 8000 corpses and 1252 mummies. The halls divide into categories. You’ll see men, women, virgins, children, priests, monks, and professionals. Some bodies are well-preserved. Others are posed. For instance, two children sit in a rocking chair. Coffins were accessible. Families could join hands with the deceased in prayer.
Among the famous interments is Filippo d’Austria, a prince of Tunis. Also interred are Giuseppe Grimau, Vincenzo Natoli, and Lorenzo Marabitti. You’ll find Filippo Pennino, Giuseppe Velasco, and Salvatore Manzella. Alexandre Michaud de Beauretour, Giulio Ascanio Enea, and Giovanni Corrao rest here too. Paolo Ragona, Bishop Agostino Franco, and Giovanni Paterniti are also among the dead. Ernesto Salafia and Salvatore Auteri complete the list of notable figures. Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa is buried in the adjacent cemetery.
The Sicily Mummy Project studies these mummies. Anthropologist Dario Piombino-Mascali leads the project. X-rays and CT scans gather information. Anthropological and paleopathological techniques confirm age and gender. Piombino-Mascali believes the project reopened discussion about death in Sicily. Forensic biologist Mark Benecke identified insects that shed light on mummification. Recent research focuses on children in the catacombs.
Today, the Catacombe dei Cappuccini are open to the public. Photography is officially prohibited. Iron grilles prevent tampering. The catacombs offer a glimpse into Sicilian attitudes toward death. Sicilians saw death as part of life. Mummification allowed them to maintain relationships with the deceased. It’s a departure from Western customs of concealing the dead.
As you leave the Catacombe dei Cappuccini consider the lives and afterlives on display. The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo serve as a poignant reminder of mortality. They also show the enduring human desire to connect with those who have passed.