Guide To Rome's Capuchin Crypt

Of all the ways to be remembered in Rome—on a statue, in a fresco, on a plaque—this one is perhaps the most literal.

At the 17th century Capuchin Crypt, hundreds of long dead monks are memorialized not with words, but with their bones.

Fellow friars arranged them into floral patterns, chandeliers, and full skeletal scenes, creating an unsettling blend of reverence and design.

The underground chapel wasn’t meant to be frightening. It was created as a memento mori, a reminder of how brief and fragile life is.

Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini

Morbid? Maybe.

But also strangely celebratory, like a visual sermon on mortality and spiritual focus.

Still, the effect is hard to forget. And the Capuchin Crypt isn’t for everyone.

It’s dark, it’s strange, and undeniably macabre. But if you’re drawn to the symbolic, the spiritual, or just the deeply weird, it’s worth venturing into this quiet underworld just off the bustling Via Veneto.

Overview & Tips

Here are some quick things to know before visiting:

Location: The crypt is under the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. (Say that five times fast!)
Entrance: Use the staircase on the right side of the church.
What you’ll see: Around 3,700 Capuchin friars arranged in complex patterns in six themed rooms.
Start at the museum: The visit begins with exhibits on the Capuchin order and its history.
Photos: Not allowed. Any images shown are stock.
Tip: Book ahead – this is now a popular destination.

You can pre-book a timed entry ticket. Or sign up for a one hour group tour of the place.

And who are the Capuchin friars anyway?

The Capuchins are a branch of the larger Franciscan order in the Catholic Church. They were founded in the early 16th century as a reform movement that aimed to return to the strict poverty and simplicity practiced by St. Francis of Assisi.

Medieval monk in robe writes with a goose feather

They wore distinctive pointed hoods, which is actually how they got their name. The Italian word capuccio means hood.

They also sported the classic monk haircut, the tonsure or ring-cut hair.

The story goes that this group of Capuchins abandoned their former convent and moved into this church. When they moved, they arrived with 300 carloads containing the dead bodies of their friars.

The problem was there wasn’t any room for them to bury the mortal remains. So they had to come up with a creative way to properly put the remains to rest with taking up too much space.

The friars decided to use the bones as medium to create extremely unique sculptures. Is it gross?

Not really. It’s considered to be a holy space.

But in the 19th century, the friars decided to open the crypt one day a year on All Souls Day to make some cold hard cash. Deciding it was lucrative, in 2022, they opened it on a daily basis.

If you don’t take yourself too seriously, you won’t be able to stop humming “the foot bone’s connected to the leg bone …”

What To See At The Capuchin Crypt

Crypt of the Three Skeletons

This is the first stop (for most people) and the most famous of the rooms.

It contains the foreboding inscription, which is basically the moral of the story: “What you are now, we used to be; What we are now, you will be.” It’s in five languages to boot.

You might think, as the title suggests, that there are only 3 skeletons in this room. Not true! It’s just that 3 are mummified and have escaped fragmentation.

The most gruesome one is on the ceiling. A skeleton (almost looks like a child) grasps a grim reaper scythe and scales that weigh your good deeds vs. bad deed. He’s set in a rondel, made of even more bones.

This reflects the Catholic doctrine that you can only earn salvation through good works. No sinning folks!

There’s also a clock with no hands on the ceiling. It’s a symbol that life can go on forever, even after you’re led to the afterlife.

The chapel’s bony chandelier, stars, and floral motifs were made with ribs and vertebrae. Quite inspired, I’d say.

There are a few more skeletons, dressed up as friars, both standing and reclining.

Crypt of the Skulls

The wall is entirely covered with human skulls.

They’re arranged in a pediment over the center. There are hundreds, and possibly thousands, of skulls that decorating this space.

Look at the central wall for the hourglass with wings. It’s a reminder that “time flies.”

Crypt of the Hips

This crypt puts the hip into your Bone Chapel visit. It’s named for the canopy of wavy hipbones with vertebrae bangles over the central altar.

If you look up between crust #3 and #4, you’ll one with a black bow tie.

Crypt of the Tibia & Fibula

Then, you move on to a different type of bone, leg and thigh bones. The entire back wall is decorated with pelvises and other bones arranged to form a large canopy.

The niches are inhabited by Capuchin monks, with floral motifs made from bones. Their robes gave the name to the coffee drink with the frothy white cowl.

You’ll see the Franciscan symbol: the bare arm of Christ and the robed arm of a friar embracing the faithful.

Above that is a bony crown. Below that are 18 graves with simple crosses.

Crypt of the Resurrection

This is the last room you’ll visit. There’s a large painting of Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life.

It fits the monks’ theme: Christian faith in resurrection of the flesh. In theory, all of the bones down there will miraculously reassemble in heaven.

Mass Chapel

This is the place where mass is celebrated for the bones and skeletons.It’s the only room in the crypt without any bones, though it still has its own quiet weight.

The small altar space was used for religious services and features a striking depiction of Jesus and Mary urging three saints (Felix of Cantalice, Francis of Assisi, and Anthony of Padua) to help souls escape from Purgatory.

Look closely and you’ll spot the inscription “DOM.” It stands for Deo Optimo Maximo—Latin for “to the best and greatest God.”

The phrase was originally used for Jupiter in pagan Rome. But Christians later adopted it for their own highest devotion. A subtle reminder: in Rome, layers of faith are always buried just beneath the surface.

St. Jerome in Meditation (copy of Caravaggio)

Museum

If you want more detail, stop into the museum to learn about the Capuchin order.

You will have to go through it anyway to reach the crypts. And you can always double back to it when you’re finished with your tour.

It’s a bit exhaustive, with loads of manuscripts, artifacts, and monks objects. I was surprised to find exhibits on their medicines and pharmacies.

There’s supposedly a Caravaggio painting there, St. Francis in Meditation. But it doesn’t look like the real deal to me.

Practical Information For The Capuchin Crypt

Address:

Via Vittorio Veneto 27. It’s very close to the Palazzo Barberini, if you want to pair it with an underrated museum.

If you are joining a tour, you will likely meet at the Fountain of the Triton on Piazza Barberini. If you are coming by metro, get off at Barberini Station.

Hours: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm daily.

Tickets: €10. Entry is not included with the Rome Pass. Be sure to pick up your free audio guide!

Pro Tips: Modest retire is required. So, for women, be sure you shoulders and knees are covered.

Website

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the Capuchin Crypt, also known as the Bone Chapel. You may find these other Rome Tavel guides useful:

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