Comments on: Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo, Sicily

By: 9 of the Strangest Bone Churches of Europe | BootsnAll Travel Articles

9 of the Strangest Bone Churches of Europe | BootsnAll Travel Articles — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:07:43 +0000

[...] Rome where bones are stacked along the walls. In Palermo, it’s something quite different. The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo are famous not just for the interesting way in which the dead are arranged, but also because of one [...]

By: kathy lynn

kathy lynn — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:04:51 +0000

I had the chance to go to the catacombs in the late 80s. I loved it. It is kind of weird walking around with all the dead bodies hanging on the wall. I saw a National Geographic channel last night and they covered this and it brought back many memories. I enjoyed looking at your pictures.

Thanks for coming by, Kathy!

By: Ezi

Ezi — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:25:03 +0000

I can’t seem to find any information on how these people died – especially as there were quite a few kids among the dead. This doesn’t seem to be your regular cemetery, as I’m sure that there was more than enough land in the whole of Sicily to have laid them to rest. Can anyone point me to some history explaining what circumstances surrounded their deaths?

There isn’t anything special about the way these people died; this was simply a way to “store” dead bodies at the time — the people come from all walks of life, although it was a bit of an honor to be placed in the catacombs. They are separated inside by professions, sex, age, etc. Also, it should be noted that cemeteries in Italy generally aren’t underground; they are crypts above ground.

By: cindy bentley

cindy bentley — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:53:25 +0000

I would have loved to have seen this in person with you and then we would have went to Rome and enjoyed the one there even more. I found the one in Rome like you found this place to be very calming and enjoyed it thouroghly. I really didn’t want to leave it.

Who woulda thought, Cindy? I hope to visit more around Italy

By: vastedda

vastedda — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:20:42 +0000

Good job on the Cappucini Catacombs.BTW, “Rosalia” was named after Santa Rosalia,the patron saint of Palermo-whose shrine is located on Monte Pellegrino.If you really want to see a festa,the festa di’Santa Rusalia in Palermo in mid-July is it! Sicilian street food you have heard of and never have heard of. Warning-Hot and Crowded. BTW, it’s “Rusalia” in Sicilian. Rosalia Lombardo is hereabouts A.K.A.”a bedda ‘durmentata”-Sicilian for the beautiful dormant one or “Sleeping Beauty”,also “a bedda’angeluzza ‘ri Palermu’ “-Sicilian for the beautiful little angel of Palermo. E comu’no!On the farther side of the Cappucini monastery there is a NORMAL cemetary where Giuseppe Tommasi,Principe di Lampedusa (Prince of Lampedusa) is buried.The Good Prince is the author of “The Leopard” -”Il Gattopardo” upon which the 60′s movie with Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale is based.The film is regarded as the Sicilian “Gone with the wind”-dealing with Garibaldi’s 1860 invasion of Sicily which overthrew the Bourbons and added Sicily to the unified Italian nation. Thanks for the Cappucini article.

Thanks so much for sharing all this info! I *loved* Palermo

By: Connie Costa

Connie Costa — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:50:35 +0000

What excellent pictures and yes, I agree with everyone else that the picture of Rosalia is pretty freaky! And I agree with you about how delicious cappuccino is!

Mmm I can taste the cappuccino now Connie….

By: Cherrye at My Bella Vita

Cherrye at My Bella Vita — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:57:31 +0000

Hey! I recognize those cappuccini!!

Cherrye at My Bella Vita’s last blog post..Guest Blogger Linda: Green Eggs and Ham

*All* the cappuccini, I’m sure!

By: Italian News Snippets: 07.13.08 | Italy Travel Guide

Italian News Snippets: 07.13.08 | Italy Travel Guide — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 10:03:52 +0000

[...] Ooh, I just love catacombs and crypts and cemeteries… Dunno why. But here’s yet another that I want to visit – the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo. [...]

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:51:00 +0000

I have been there a couple of times and found it really interesting too. I got a little freaked out when I started thinking about ‘what if the lights went out’ etc…..but very worth the visit. When we returned home to Michigan though, I was at Krogers in the checkout and noticed “The Enquirer”, and guess who was on the front page? Yep, Little Rosalia Lombardi!!!!! The people in line thought I was completely nuts! I was like, “Oh my gosh, there’s little Rosalia”.

What a coincidence! Yeah, I’m not sure I’d enjoy the little tour with the lights out….

By: Jessica, Italy Logue

Jessica, Italy Logue — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:25:17 +0000

I’m with you – I adore this kind of stuff. The Capuchin Crypt in Rome and an Ossuary in Sedlec outside Prague are particular holiday highlights of my past. Thanks for sharing! (And good for you, honoring the no photos thing – it really burns me when I see people disobeying those edicts.)

Jessica, Italy Logue’s last blog post..Siena

Jessica, I saw a few flashes go off while we were down there. *So* disrespectful