Brought here in carts
When the friars moved to this church in 1631, they brought the remains of their dead brothers from their old friary. Over the following generations the bones were arranged into arches, rosettes and even chandeliers.
Urban Tales › Rome › Capuchin Crypt
Capuchin Crypt: the history, and the message on the wall
Under a church on Via Veneto, six small chapels are decorated with the bones of about 3,700 Capuchin friars. It's not meant to frighten, but to make you think. Here's what you're looking at, and what to listen for when you visit.
Church built1626–1631
Friars≈ 3,700
Chapels6
StreetVia Veneto
Hear the Capuchin Crypt story, in the app's voice
A short preview. The full story plays on its own when you walk up to it with Urban Tales.
Three stories most visitors miss
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A message for visitors
At the end, a plaque reads, in several languages: "What you are now, we used to be; what we are now, you will be." That's the whole point of the place.
3
Earth from Jerusalem
The soil in the chapels is said to have been brought from Jerusalem, a common legend about holy ground in old Roman crypts.
TipRead the plaque at the end of the corridor before you leave, then walk out onto Via Veneto. With Urban Tales running, the crypt's story plays as you reach the church steps.
Nearby landmarks
Capuchin Crypt: common questions
Why is the Capuchin Crypt decorated with bones?
The friars arranged the remains of their dead brothers as a reminder that life is short, not to shock visitors.
How many people are in the Capuchin Crypt?
The bones of about 3,700 friars, arranged across six small chapels.
Can you take photos in the Capuchin Crypt?
No. Photography isn't allowed inside the crypt.