Our Lady of the Conception

The Church of Santa Maria of the Conception of the Capuchins (Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini) was built between 1626 and 1631 under the orders of Pope Urban VIII and is one of the most special churches in Rome due to the macabre treasure that it holds.

The church from inside

Capuchin Crypt in Rome

Our Lady of the Conception

The interior of the church stands out for its modest size and great sobriety, which distinguishes it from the rest of the ostentatious churches in the city, but this isn’t why the church is such a special place.

The main attraction of Santa Maria della Concezione is closely guarded between the walls of the Crypt of the Capuchin friars, a place that will give many of its visitors goose bumps.

The Crypt of the Capuchins

After construction of the church was completed in 1631, Fray Antonio Marcello Barberini ordered the transfer of the remains of the Capuchin friars from the main cemetery to the church crypt.

The cardinal ordered the bones to be transferred in an “artistic” fashion, leading to the formation of different chilling motifs full of great symbolism.

The crypt is divided into six small chapels decorated with the bones of over 4,000 Capuchin friars who died between 1528 and 1870. The bones, arranged in a sinister way, show different decorative elements that are as shocking as they are macabre.

In addition to bones arranged in different ways, in the crypt there are some complete skeletons dressed in the habit of the Capuchin monks, making for a truly chilling experience.

Despite its appearance, the crypts are not the work of a twisted mind, but rather, of a person who seeks to demonstrate that body’s purpose is to be a mere container for the soul.

A popular place

The Church of Santa Maria of the Conception of the Capuchins fades into the background for the curious tourists who turn out in droves to take in the gruesome spectacle in the crypt. Most visitors are shocked by the monks’ unusual decor, which may be unsuitable for overly sensitive people.