Catacombs of the Franciscan friars

Catacombs of the Franciscan friars

Catacombs of the monastery of the friars Franciscan ("Cappuccini") in Palermo

Starting from 1599 the basement of the Convent of the Friars Minor Reformed of St. Francesco, called "Cappuccini", consisting of a regular grid of corridors covered with barrel vaults and cross vaults, were used as "catacombs" until the first decades of the twentieth century.
In the catacombs were buried about 8,000 corpses, arranged along the walls and under floors, neatly divided into "departments": children, women, men. In some cases they are further broken down by categories such as "clergy" and "professional."
At intersections and corridors are extensions of niches and environments intended for people of rank or particular social importance.
The bodies, before being exposed, they were placed in premises adjacent to corridors, called "colatoi," for a whole year, so that the process of mummification happen. The best results were obtained when the bodies themselves were treated with baths of vinegar or lime milk.
Please note: the photographs of this report document a historical reality widespread in Spain and South Italy, but some of them are very "raw" or "strong", and could therefore hurting the feelings of someone. Therefore we do not recommend their vision to those who may wish to be able to be in any way disturbed by them.

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