The Catacombs of the Capuchins of Palermo are composed of long galleries communicating in the tuff, for an extension of about 300 square meters.

 Around 2,000 skeletons and mummified bodies are kept in these rooms, making the Catacombs of Palermo the largest and most extraordinary collection of mummies in the world.

The practice of mummification is an ancient tradition that has taken hold particularly in Sicily and the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo are the highest expression of this tradition, because of the huge number of preserved human housed in them.

The news of the 45 bodies found intact in the Capuchin convent attracted great attention and, little by little, the Capuchins began accepting more and more laypeople until finally, in 1783, they decided to concede burial to anyone requesting it.