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Crypt of the Capuchin Friars in Rome, featuring walls adorned with human skulls and bones.
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Tickets

Capuchin Crypt Ticket with Audio Guide

Walk through the eerie bone-lined chapels and learn about Capuchin friars' burial traditions via audio guide.

  • Everything you get: Enter the Capuchin Museum and Crypt anytime during operating hours and explore at your own pace with an audio guide. Walk through chapels decorated with human bones, discover relics, paintings, and sacred objects, and learn the symbolism behind this unusual underground site.
  • Why choose this: Whether you want a short, flexible visit to the bone chapels or a guided underground tour with transfers, there’s an option to match your time and curiosity.
  • Upgrades: Join a guided tour of Rome’s catacombs and the Capuchin Crypt with skip-the-line catacombs entry and coach transfers between sites. Or choose an extended route with a stop at Bocca della Verità.
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Check availability
Book now, pay later
Explore at your pace
Audio guide
Transfers available

Walk through the eerie bone-lined chapels and learn about Capuchin friars' burial traditions via audio guide.

  • Everything you get: Enter the Capuchin Museum and Crypt anytime during operating hours and explore at your own pace with an audio guide. Walk through chapels decorated with human bones, discover relics, paintings, and sacred objects, and learn the symbolism behind this unusual underground site.
  • Why choose this: Whether you want a short, flexible visit to the bone chapels or a guided underground tour with transfers, there’s an option to match your time and curiosity.
  • Upgrades: Join a guided tour of Rome’s catacombs and the Capuchin Crypt with skip-the-line catacombs entry and coach transfers between sites. Or choose an extended route with a stop at Bocca della Verità.

Inclusions #

  • Entry ticket to Capuchin Crypt and Museum

  • Audio guide

  • Guided tour of the Capuchin Crypts (as per option selected)

  • Guided tour of the Roman catacombs (Domitilla or Callixtus) with an English-speaking guide & skip-the-line entry (as per option selected)

  • Stop at the Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth) (as per option selected)

  • Coach or bus transfers between central Rome and the sites (as per option selected)

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair and stroller access: The museum and crypt are wheelchair and stroller-friendly. The guided tours however, aren't.

What’s not allowed

  • Pets: Pets are not allowed inside the Capuchin Museum and Crypt.
  • Food and drinks: Food and drinks are not allowed inside the venue.

Additional information

  • Dress code: Since it is a religious site, shoulders and knees must be covered before entering.
  • Storage: There are storage facilities for large bags, luggage, and backpacks.
  • Photography: Photography for personal and non-commercial use is permitted.
  • Catacomb closures: The Domitilla catacombs are closed on Tuesdays, and the Callixtus catacombs are closed on Wednesdays.
  • Return transport: From the Capuchin Crypt, you will need to arrange your own transport back for some tour options.
  • Group size: Guided tour options run in groups of up to 20 or 25 guests, depending on the variant selected.
  • These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Visitors descending stairs into Capuchin Crypt with guide in Rome.
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Guided Tours

Capuchin Crypt Guided Tour with Transfers

Skip city logistics and explore Rome’s strangest site of faith through stories of Capuchin friars and underground Rome.

  • Everything you get: Travel from central Rome with round-trip transfers and explore the Capuchin Crypt and Museum on a guided tour. Walk through museum galleries and the famous bone chapels as your expert guide reveals the symbolism, traditions, and stories behind this remarkable expression of faith.
  • Why choose: Avoid navigating across the city and experience the Crypt with expert context that transforms a visually striking visit into a deeper understanding of Rome’s religious history.
  • Upgrades: Extend your underground journey with a guided tour of the Roman Catacombs in your selected language and discover how early Christian communities lived, worshipped, and commemorated life beneath ancient Rome.
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Check availability
Flexible cancellation
Book now, pay later
3 hrs - 3 hrs 30 mins
Transfers available

Skip city logistics and explore Rome’s strangest site of faith through stories of Capuchin friars and underground Rome.

  • Everything you get: Travel from central Rome with round-trip transfers and explore the Capuchin Crypt and Museum on a guided tour. Walk through museum galleries and the famous bone chapels as your expert guide reveals the symbolism, traditions, and stories behind this remarkable expression of faith.
  • Why choose: Avoid navigating across the city and experience the Crypt with expert context that transforms a visually striking visit into a deeper understanding of Rome’s religious history.
  • Upgrades: Extend your underground journey with a guided tour of the Roman Catacombs in your selected language and discover how early Christian communities lived, worshipped, and commemorated life beneath ancient Rome.

Inclusions #

  • Entry to Capuchin Crypt and Museum

  • Guided Tour of Capuchin Crypt

  • Expert English, Italian, French, Spanish, or German (as per option selected)

  • Round trip transfers from central Rome (as per option selected)

  • Guided tour of Roman Catacombs (as per option selected)

What to bring

  • A light jacket — temperatures in the catacombs are cool year-round.
  • Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees, as visits include religious sites.

What’s not allowed

  • Photography or videography inside the catacombs and crypts.
  • Large bags or bulky items that may obstruct narrow passageways.

Accessibility

  • The tour involves uneven terrain, steep stairs, and confined tunnels.
  • Unfortunately, it is not wheelchair-accessible and not advised for visitors with mobility issues.

Additional information

  • Arrive at the meeting point at least 15 minutes before departure.
  • Get full refund if you cancel 24 hours before the experience start time.

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Capuchin Crypt: Where art meets the afterlife

Journey through time and mortality at one of Rome’s most fascinating treasures—the Capuchin Crypt! Located beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, it is famous for its artistic displays made from the skeletal remains of approximately 3,700 Capuchin friars. These remains are arranged in elaborate designs, including chandeliers and decorative arches. Created by the Capuchin friars in the 17th century, this underground world invites reflection on life, death, and the fleeting nature of existence. Join a local expert on a memorable tour. Read more to find why and how to visit.

Things to know before buying Capuchin Crypt tickets

  • Access to the Capuchin Crypt is only permitted through a visit to the associated Museum of the Capuchin Friars. You cannot enter the crypt without first going through the museum, which provides valuable context about the Capuchin Order and its history.
  • Due to high demand, especially during peak tourist seasons, it’s advisable to book your tickets at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This will secure your spot and help you avoid disappointment, as last-minute availability can be limited.
  • The Crypt is steeped in Rome's timeless history, and a guided tour can elevate your experience with fascinating stories and little-known facts. Opt for a half-day tour that combines the Capuchin Crypt with nearby sites like the Domitilla Catacombs and San Nicola Basilica—ideal for a well-rounded underground adventure.
  • If you’re a first-time visitor, go for a tour with round-trip transfers from central Rome. It’s a hassle-free way to navigate Italy’s transportation system. While the guide will lead you through the Catacombs of St. Callixtus and Domitilla, you’ll explore the Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars on your own using an audio guide.
  • Smaller to medium groups (around 20 guests) gives you a more intimate experience, while larger groups may be more cost-effective but could lack personal attention from guides.
  • The site is not wheelchair accessible due to steps and uneven surfaces.

Your Capuchin Crypt tour options explained

FeaturesGuided toursTours with transfers

Guide

✅

🎧

Transfers

❌

🚌

Additional stops

St. Callixtus/Domitilla/St. Sebastian Catacombs (based on availability), San Nicola Basilica

Domitilla Catacombs, St. Callixtus Catacombs

Recommended tours

Capuchin Crypt | Quick facts

Capuchin Crypt? - Quick Facts
  • Historical significance: Final resting place for 4,000 Capuchin monks, created to embody the "memento mori" philosophy.
  • Time period: Built in the 17th century, with burials from 1500 to 1870.
  • Current use: A tourist site and reflection spot featuring artistic bone displays, alongside a museum on Capuchin life.
  • Accessibility: Located under Santa Maria della Concezione, Via Vittorio Veneto, Rome. Open daily: 10am - 7pm.
  • Key features: Five chambers decorated with bones and skulls in intricate designs. Crypt of Skulls, Crypt of Leg Bones, and the Mass Chapel (relics but no bones). Unique displays like chandeliers from shoulder blades, clocks from vertebrae.

What are Capuchin Crypt opening hours?

Why Visit the Capuchin Crypt?

Daily:

Morning: From 9:30am to 1:30pm (last entry at 12:30pm)

Afternoon: From 2:30pm to 6:30pm (last entry at 5:30pm)

Days closed:The Capuchin Crypt is closed on December 25, January 1, and Easter Sunday.

Complete schedule of Roman Catacombs

Best time to visit the Capuchin Crypt

The best time to visit the Capuchin Crypt is right when it opens at 10am for a peaceful, crowd-free experience. If you're planning your trip, aim for weekdays, especially Mondays or Tuesdays, as weekends can get busy. For the best weather, visit in the spring (April to June) or fall (September to early November), when Rome is at its most comfortable. Summer months like July and August are quite crowded, while the cooler temperatures from December to February create a unique and contemplative ambiance in the crypt's underground chambers.

Where is Capuchin Crypt located?

Address: Via Vittorio Veneto, 27, 00187 Roma RM, Italy.

The Capuchin Crypt is located beneath the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, which is just a few steps away from the famous Palazzo Barberini.

  • By bus: Take bus routes 52, 63, or 175 to the nearest stops, which are a short walk from the crypt.
  • By metro: The closest metro station is Barberini on Line A. From there, it’s just a few minutes' walk to the Capuchin Crypt.
Step-by-step directions to Roman Catacombs

Highlights of Capuchin Crypt

Crypt of the Three Skeletons

This crypt features three skeletons enclosed in an oval, symbolizing the cycle of life and death. One skeleton holds a scythe representing mortality, while the other holds scales symbolizing judgment of one's deeds. A placard reminds visitors of the universal truth: "What you are now we used to be; what we are now you will be..."

Crypt of the Resurrection

Here, you will find a powerful display of human bones arranged to frame a picture of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. It serves as a visual representation of the theme of resurrection and the triumph over death.

The Chapel for the Mass

This is a non-bone area where mass is celebrated. It houses an altarpiece depicting Jesus, Mary, and saints urging the release of souls from Purgatory. The chapel also contains the heart of Maria Felice Peretti, the grand niece of Pope Sixtus V, and the tomb of Papal Zouaves who died defending the Papal States.

Crypt of the Skulls

The crypt showcases an arrangement of human skulls, creating a macabre yet fascinating sight that reflects the transience of life and the inevitability of death.

Crypt of the Basins

It features the arrangement of human pelvis bones, forming basins. This unique display highlights the physicality of the human body and creates a thought-provoking and visually striking experience for visitors.

Crypt of the Tibias and Femurs

The crypt displays a collection of leg bones and thigh bones, highlighting the structure and strength of the human lower extremities in an artistic and thought-provoking manner.

Timeline of the Capuchin Crypt

  • 1500-1870: Approximately 4,000 Capuchin friars were buried in the crypt. Burials followed the tradition of exhuming the longest-buried remains to make space for new ones. These reclaimed bones were incorporated into the crypt's ornate decorations.
  • 1631: The Capuchin monks relocated to the site, bringing with them 300 cartloads of bones from their previous monastery. Under Fr. Michael of Bergamo's supervision, the bones were meticulously arranged. Soil from Jerusalem was imported at Pope Urban VIII's request for the crypt's creation.
  • 1851-1852: Entry to the crypt was restricted, prohibiting women from visiting during this time.
  • Present day: The crypt stands as a unique and solemn historical site, drawing visitors with its intricate bone arrangements and its significance as a burial site for friars and poor Romans.

​Complete history of Roman Catacombs explained

Visitor tips

  • The crypt and museum can be explored thoroughly in 45 minutes to an hour. This gives you ample time to appreciate the exhibits without rushing.
  • Pair your visit with nearby landmarks like the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione or Piazza Barberini for a fuller exploration of the area.
  • As a sacred site, the crypt requires modest attire. Make sure your shoulders and knees are covered to avoid being denied entry.
  • Photography is strictly prohibited inside the crypt. Respect the sanctity of the space by leaving your camera or phone in your bag.
  • Bring a light jacket. The crypt's underground chambers are naturally cool, even in summer. A light jacket or shawl will keep you comfortable.
  • The intricate displays of human bones serve as a profound reminder of the fleeting nature of life. Take a moment to reflect on the Capuchin motto, "What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you shall be."

​Plan your visit to Capuchin Crypt

Frequently asked questions about the Capuchin Crypt tickets

Yes, all Capuchin Crypt tickets include entry to the Museum of the Capuchin Friars, where you can explore exhibits on the history of the order, their lifestyle, and the fascinating connection between art and faith.

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