Today I went to the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, an underground resting place for thousands of mummified and skeletonized old dead bodies.

Some bodies are hanging on walls, others are laid out on shelves, all dressed in once-beautiful clothing that is now in tatters. Some of the mummies still have skin (very dried out) as well as wisps of fine, straw-like hair.

A fun outing? Not really, but certainly memorable, especially if you have nightmares afterwards, like I did!

The story behind the Palermo catacombs is quite fascinating and dates back to the 1500s when the cemetery of the Capuchin friars, a type of mass burial site, became overloaded with corpses. When the friars exhumed several of their deceased brethren to transfer them to a new burial spot in the caves below the monastery, they were shocked to discover that the bodies were magnificently preserved, some with recognizable faces. They decided to display the adored bodies as relics, propped in niches along the walls of the new cemetery.

Soon after, people of stature decided that when they passed, they also wanted to be entombed in the caves. They would pay hefty fees beforehand, and following their death, family members could visit them, but only if they kept up with the payments. If not, the corpses would be removed from the wall and put on a shelf until the money was paid.

The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo is the largest collection of mummified remains in Europe, and houses 1,284 whole mummified bodies. I’ll admit, I was totally creeped out and got out of there as fast as I could, but I’ve heard people say it’s a must-see and the highlight of any trip to Palermo.