Crypt of the Mummies

For centuries the dead in Italy were buried in churches and monastery crypts, until Napoleonic laws at the start of the 19th century banned burial inside churches. In some of these crypts the bodies survived. Two routes are distinguished: accidental mummification brought about by the conditions in the room, and deliberate treatment.

Natural mummification depends on the place. A draught through small windows, porous rock and a dry climate can make bodies dry out instead of decaying. Studies of one Italian mountain crypt describe the process explicitly as unintended. In some monasteries, by contrast, the dead were dried on purpose on racks and then displayed in clothing.

Whichever route was taken, the mummies are people with names, families and life stories. This gallery is meant as quiet remembrance. The exact location is not given, so that the site is not overrun or damaged. If you visit similar places, follow the rules on site, touch nothing and photograph only where it is permitted.