Ani Rafyan
Google
One of Rome’s best hidden gems. An incredible experience — a true must-see. As you walk through the museum, you start to understand just how fleeting our time on Earth really is. The Catacombs of the Capuchins are both fascinating and unsettling. It’s strange to think that at one point in history, it was completely acceptable to unearth the bones of the dead and use them as a model for art.
The crypt was created in the 17th century by Capuchin friars who brought the bones of thousands of their deceased brothers from a nearby monastery. Instead of burying them, they arranged the bones in intricate patterns, transforming death into a powerful visual message about the transience of life. The crypt contains the remains of an estimated 3,700 friars. Today, it stands as a haunting reminder of a time when death was not hidden away, but fully embraced as part of existence.