Hotels near Capuchin Catacombs

The Capuchin Catacombs are among Palermo's most extraordinary and macabre sights, holding roughly 8,000 mummified bodies in underground corridors. From the 16th to the early 20th century, Palermo's clergy, professionals, and families were embalmed and displayed here, dressed in their finest clothes.

The bodies are arranged by category along the walls - monks, men, women, children, and professionals - many still eerily preserved. The most famous is Rosalia Lombardo, a two-year-old who died in 1920, so well embalmed she appears to be sleeping. It is a sobering, unforgettable experience, not for the squeamish.

Pro Tip: Entry is about 5 EUR, cash preferred, and photography is not allowed. It sits west of the centre - take a taxi or AMAT bus and combine it with a visit to the nearby Zisa palace.