Capuchin Catacombs, Palermo — Rosalia Lombardo's eyes

OVERVIEW

The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo are burial catacombs under the Capuchin monastery, a macabre tourist attraction and an extraordinary historical record, holding about 8,000 bodies. They have been filmed for television, including Ghosthunting With Paul O'Grady and Friends (ITV2, 2008).

HISTORY

The monastery outgrew its cemetery in the 16th century; in 1599 the monks mummified Brother Silvestro of Gubbio and placed him in the crypts. Bodies were dried on racks of ceramic pipes and sometimes washed with vinegar, some embalmed, some sealed in glass. Rosalia Lombardo (13 December 1918 – 6 December 1920) died of bronchopneumonia a week before her second birthday; her father had her embalmed by Alfredo Salafia. She was among the last interred; the final burial was in 1939. Her coffin is now in a sealed glass case filled with nitrogen.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

EXPLAINED. Rosalia's eyes appear to open and close several times a day, showing her blue irises. The catacombs' curator, Dario Piombino-Mascali: 'It's an optical illusion produced by the light that filters through the side windows, which during the day is subject to change ... [her eyes] are not completely closed, and indeed they have never been.'

VISITING

A tourist attraction under the Capuchin monastery; Rosalia lies in a small chapel at the end of the catacomb's street.