🏛️ Mummies of Palermo: how to get to the Capuchin Catacombs and what to see there

In Palermo, beneath an unremarkable Capuchin monastery, lies one of the most unusual cemeteries in Europe. Official burials here ended in 1882, with only rare exceptions made later. Visitors see the bodies in an open state. A full ticket to the catacombs costs €5, a reduced ticket costs €3 (as of 09/2026, official museum website).

The Capuchin Catacombs (Catacombe dei Cappuccini) are located beneath the monastery on Piazza Cappuccini, away from the historic center. Around 2,000 skeletons and mummies are displayed in the corridors and niches, and the galleries cover roughly 300 m² (as of 09/2026, museum homepage). You don't need a guide: the route is simple, and photography is not allowed inside.

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History of the Palermo catacombs

💡 In short:

The underground cemetery is located beneath the Capuchin monastery, the navigator landmark is: Piazza Cappuccini, Palermo.
Full admission costs €5, reduced admission costs €3, tickets are sold only at the museum ticket office, online sales are not officially approved (as of 09/2026, official museum website).
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official website

The Capuchin order came to Sicily in the 16th century and quickly became in demand in Palermo. The brothers did not want to bury the dead far from their home monastery, so they decided to build a cemetery right beneath the friary. The first grave in the crypt appeared at the end of the 16th century, and later the remains of monks who had died earlier were moved here (according to the official website, 09/2026).

Space in the crypt was running out, and the Capuchins gradually dug a long corridor. Later, niches for the monastery's patrons appeared nearby, followed by separate corridors and cubicles. Until 1739, burials were authorized by archbishops or order leaders, after which this right passed to the monastery's abbots.

Corridor with mummies in the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo

From the 18th to the 19th century, the underground served as the city's prestigious cemetery. Clergy and noble citizens were buried here, so niches underground were valued more highly than a spot in an ordinary cemetery. In 1837, open burial was banned, but the ban was circumvented: a "window" was left in the coffin or a wall was removed so the deceased could be seen. The last burials date to 1882, with rare exceptions made later at the request of relatives (as of the museum's page, 09/2026).

How the catacombs differ from an ordinary museum

This is not a museum with display cases, but former burial galleries. Bodies lie, stand, and are even suspended on hooks in the open. The clothing on them shows the fashion of the 16th to 19th centuries, in which people were buried. From the cut and fabric, you understand who the person was in life.

Mummies in clothing along the catacomb corridor

Every centimeter of the corridors is filled with remains. The exhibits are divided by status, profession, and gender: there are corridors of monks, priests, artisans, men and women, separate cubicles for virgins and infants. You will also see a new corridor that was opened after the ban on open burials, and a chapel in the center of the underground.

The sight is not for everyone, and it's worth accepting that in advance. The route is not designed for small children or people with sensitive perception. If you have doubts, look at photos of the museum before your trip and decide calmly.

Corridors and cubicles of the catacombs

The underground site consists of corridors and cubicles that connect to each other. Each section is assigned to a separate group of the buried. Below is a breakdown of each corridor: what you can see in it and how it differs from the neighboring one.

At first, monks were buried in the niches, their bodies dried and treated with vinegar. When it turned out that the soil and air of the underground site prevented decomposition, noble families of Palermo asked for places for their relatives. That is how the corridors divided by social status appeared.

Access to some rooms is closed. The corridor of especially revered monks is off-limits for religious and scientific reasons, and the most damaged mummies are not put on display.

Corridor of the monks

The oldest corridor grew out of the first crypt. The Capuchin Silvestro is buried here, after which the remains of brothers who had died earlier were moved here. The mummies are dressed in traditional habits with a hood and a rope around the neck. Respected monks who contributed to the development of the order occupy niches along the wall. The Capuchins were buried in the order's clothing, without adornment, and this uniformity contrasts sharply with the neighboring corridors of the nobility. Today the entrance to this corridor is closed; you can only view it from the side.

Capuchin corridor with mummified monks in niches

Corridor of the men

A spacious room with stone walls whitewashed with lime is occupied by the mummies of men. These are mostly ordinary citizens who donated money for the upkeep of the monastery. Many have well-preserved clothing: from simple canvas nightshirts to tailcoats and tuxedos with jabots and ties. You can immediately tell a person's wealth from the cut. Some bodies stand in groups, some lie in separate niches. Photography is not allowed here.

Clothed mummies of men in a catacomb niche

Cubicle of the children

A small corner room with painted panels is set aside for children. Coffins stand on pedestals and in niches, and names can be read on the plaques. The central niche holds a composition where a boy sits in a rocking chair with his younger sister in his arms. This is one of the strongest impressions of the route, and it is difficult for many visitors. Parents buried their children here so they could come to them and grieve.

Baroque Quattro Canti intersection in Palermo by day

Corridor of the women

The corridor was damaged by air raids in 1943, and some mummies were harmed. The surviving bodies show the burial fashion of Palermo's women: bright dresses, lace caps, elegant sandals and gloves. Most of the bodies lie in open wooden niches, a smaller part stands upright. The garments are so well preserved that the cut of the era is visible. The good state of preservation once again confirms the special microclimate of the underground site.

Mummies of unmarried girls by a cross in the catacombs

Cubicle of the virgins

The same kind of corner room as the children's one, but closed by a metal grille. The mummies of young women lie here. On their heads are wreaths of metal flowers symbolizing innocence. The outfits are bright and well preserved, and the caps frame their faces. The grille keeps you from getting close, but it protects the bodies from contact with visitors. You will view the cubicle through the bars.

Illuminated baroque facades of Quattro Canti in Palermo at night

New corridor

The new corridor appeared after open burials were banned and accepted bodies until 1882, that is, until the last official burials in the catacombs. There are no wall niches here: coffins stand in several rows along the walls. Wealth and status were not taken into account, so people of different origins ended up next to each other. There are family burials where parents lie together with their children. There are also married couples who remained together after death.

Mummy in a tilted coffin in the catacombs

Corridor of the professionals

Well-known citizens of various professions rest here. Among them are the sculptors F. Pennino and L. Marabitti, whose works adorn the cathedrals of Palermo and Monreale, the surgeon Salvatore Manzella and Colonel F. Enea in a military uniform. The uniform is so well preserved that the trim and all the details of the dress are visible. A separate legend links the corridor to the Spanish painter Diego Velázquez, but it is no longer possible to confirm this.

Vaulted professionals' corridor in the Palermo catacombs

Corridor of the priests

The corridor runs parallel to the corridor of the monks. Mostly priests of the Diocese of Palermo are buried here. The bodies stand along the walls in two rows in festive vestments of different colors. The vertical arrangement emphasized the status of the church figures, and the brightness of the vestments heightened the impression. The only niche in this corridor is occupied by the mummy of Franco de Agostino, bishop of the Italo-Albanian Church. You will notice it immediately by its separate pedestal.

Street by Quattro Canti in Palermo with a carriage

Chapel of Saint Rosalia

The chapel in the center of the catacombs is known thanks to Rosalia Lombardo (December 13, 1918 - December 6, 1920). The girl died of pneumonia a week before her second birthday, and her grief-stricken father asked for the body to be embalmed. Dr. Salafia injected a mixture of alcohol, formalin, glycerin and zinc into the vessels, so the facial features have survived a century later. When signs of decay appeared in the 2000s, the body was moved to a drier place and placed in a glass capsule with nitrogen. An X-ray examination confirmed that the coffin contains the remains of a child, not a doll.

How bodies were prepared for burial

The secret of preservation lies in the microclimate of the underground site. The soil and air of the catacombs prevented the decomposition of bodies, so the burial method here differed from the usual one. Before burial, the remains were dried in special chambers for about 8 months, then wiped with vinegar and dressed in their best clothes. Only after that was the body placed in a niche or laid in a cubicle. During epidemics, the method changed: bodies were dipped in a solution of lime or arsenic and still displayed in the open.

Tickets and opening hours

In summer the museum is open daily from 9:00 to 17:30, last entry at 17:10, no lunch break (as of 09/2026, schedule on the official website). The winter schedule is shorter, so it is better to check the opening hours before your trip on the same website. A day off in the low season is possible, and it is worth finding out about it in advance.

Ticket	Price (as of 09/2026, rates)
Full	5 €
Reduced	3 €

Tickets are sold only at the museum ticket office. The administration does not approve of online sales and third-party sellers, so do not buy tickets from intermediaries. For large groups, they advise calling the monastery in advance.

The catch: photography and video recording are not allowed inside, so only shots from the square will remain as a memory.

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How to get to the catacombs

The catacombs are located on Piazza Cappuccini, away from the historic center, but you can walk there. From Piazza Indipendenza, follow via Cappuccini for about 15 minutes, then turn right onto via Pindemonte (according to the museum's transport page, 09/2026). If you are coming from the Norman Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni), the walk takes the same 15 minutes.

By bus, route 109 is the most convenient: it runs from the central station to Piazza Indipendenza, then you walk the same route. By metro, get off at Palazzo Reale-Orleans station, walk past the royal palace and cross Piazza Indipendenza. By car, exit the highway onto Corso Calatafimi, turn left at the first traffic light onto via Pindemonte. Piazza Cappuccini also serves as a parking lot, which is convenient if you arrive on your own.

The Capuchin Catacombs on the map

A landmark on the Palermo map: Piazza Cappuccini next to the Capuchin monastery. Open the location in advance if you want to plan a route from your hotel or the station.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does a ticket to the Capuchin Catacombs cost?

A full ticket costs 5 €, a reduced ticket 3 € (as of 09/2026, official website). Tickets are sold only at the museum ticket office; the administration does not approve of online sales or third-party sellers. If you are visiting as a group, notify the monastery by phone in advance.

How long does the visit take?

Most visitors complete the route in under an hour. You walk through the corridors and cubicles along a single route. If you read the plaques and study the clothing, it will take longer. On peak days a line forms at the entrance, so go in the morning.

Can you take photos in the catacombs?

No, photo and video recording inside are prohibited. The rule applies to all visitors, including phone photography. You can take photos outside, at the entrance and on Piazza Cappuccini. If photos matter to you, study the museum's official photographs in advance.

Are the catacombs suitable for children?

The route is not designed for small children. The cubicles of infants and children make a strong impression, so parents should decide this in advance. For teenagers the visit usually goes smoothly, but an adult should stay nearby. If you are unsure, start with a short video about the museum.

How to get there from Palermo train station?

From the central station, take bus 109 and get off at Piazza Indipendenza, then walk about 15 minutes along via Cappuccini and via Pindemonte (according to the museum's official website, 09/2026). By metro, go to Palazzo Reale-Orleans station. By car, it is convenient to approach via Corso Calatafimi; parking is available right on the square.

Are the catacombs open in winter?

In summer the museum is open daily from 9:00 to 17:30 without a break (as of 09/2026, schedule). In other months the schedule changes, so check the times before your trip on the official website. In summer the last entry is at 17:10, so arrive at least an hour before closing.

Video: the dead residents of Palermo

If you want to see the atmosphere of the corridors in advance, watch the short video below. It was filmed inside the galleries and shows what the route looks like before the first descent.

In short: what to book

The Capuchin Catacombs are worth adding to your Palermo itinerary if you are interested in the city's history and are not put off by open burials. Tickets are sold only on site, so there is nothing to book in advance. If you are short on time, take a taxi or bus 109 and head straight to Piazza Cappuccini. Plan your visit for the morning: in summer a line forms at the entrance.

If you want to add a guided city walk to your visit, check out Palermo tours on GetYourGuide. Check opening hours and prices on the official website before your trip.

Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo: tickets, schedule and route from the station