The Capuchin Catacombs’ Corpse Hallway
Posted by Ross Rosenberg
I think I speak for everyone at ectomo when I say that no house of any worth is complete without its own corpse hallway. Located in Sicily, the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo illustrate why. Built in the 16th century after the Capuchin monastery outgrew its cemetery, and housing its first corpse in 1599, that of the mummified Brother Silvestro of Gubbio, it soon became a burial place of note for anyone who was anyone in Palermo.
Relatives paid annual fees to keep their quondam loved ones in their proper places. However, if payment was not forthcoming, the body was stored in a considerably less dignified manner, such as a shelf. The catacombs are divided into seven different categories: Men, Women, Virgins, Children, Priests, Monks, and Professionals. Corpses are propped up in niches, lie on shelves, and hang up on the walls. The bodies run the gamut from skeletons to the extremely well preserved; a prime example of this being that of Rosalia Lombardo, one of the last to be interred. Two years old when she died in the 1920s, her body is still remarkably intact. How this was accomplished is unknown as the embalmer, Professor Alfredo Salafia, took his method with him to his grave.
The catacombs have become a popular tourist attraction and I can see why. Seems like a good place to bring a book and just, you know, chill.
King’s Capuchins’ Catacombs of Palermo Italy [Kimberly King] : Kircher Society
Categories: Architecture, Mummification, Religion
Posted at 11:25 pm on October 1, 2007
8 Comments -
Check out the Capela dos osos in Evora cathedral in Portugal.
It’s just like this catacomb but instead of pilling the corpses they arraign them in an artistic form.
http://inillotempore.com/blog/archives/archive_2005-m10.php
Worth to mention that each of the skulls have the name of his owner carved in it.
Comment by Draco — October 2, 2007 @ 3:16 am
Mmm..
Instant Cappuchino.
… Just add water!
Comment by Dan Morrison — October 2, 2007 @ 9:00 am
“I think I speak for everyone at ectomo when I say that no house of any worth is complete without its own corpse hallway.”
True that.
The irony of most corpse-preserving techniques being lost when the artisans shuffled loose the mortal coil is just too damn funny.
Comment by Narkalant — October 2, 2007 @ 10:19 am
[...] Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo “I think I speak for everyone at ectomo when I say that no house of any worth is complete without its own corpse hallway. Located in Sicily, the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo illustrate why. Built in the 16th century after the Capuchin monastery outgrew i (tags: travel italy corpses bodies death religion) [...]
Pingback by links for 2007-10-02 « Chatquah and Galoshes — October 2, 2007 @ 11:18 am
A hallway of corpses? That is just plain sick and wrong.
Needless to say, I want one.
Comment by Robert — October 2, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
Corpse hallways for everyone!
Except Draco who totally showed me up with his engraved skulls, heh.
Comment by Ross Rosenberg — October 2, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
i like extranormal things like this…mysteries are my thing and stories are my will…i live for telling tales…which many people can get theirs..but i love making them bones temble…that like to uncover mysteries… and listen to a story when someone is telling…i like searching more to it …does not matter if is alarming the truth is always a vivid thing that must be sail to float…i live to tell and i tale to live….(thank you and be carefull my friends not everything is gone yet…not everything is dead and not everything can be burried yet)
Comment by Qyia Ramon — April 16, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
Whatever rocks your boat
I love this stuff!
Comment by fred — October 23, 2009 @ 4:20 am