Dear CityXcapers , it’s time to share something “unconvetional” with you.
We want to share a few words about a highly growing kind of tourism:
The Dark Tourism!
Certainly we are going through a very “dark” time but it is always better to be positive and concentrate on what’s best for us.
Just like the name of some of our tours (alternative), the Dark Tourism is one of the most common choices for who likes an alternative way of travelling.
Research of obscure, fearful and dark locations characterised by a dark history or famous scary and spooky legends are the main goal of this type of tourism. Dark Tourism is a recent phenomenon and the number of destinations included into this category is very wide.
Certainly social media have influenced the growth of this type of tourism generating #curiosity. Millions of travellers are looking for grisly locations, exploring the globe , not only to admire the natural and artistics features, but also to search its history. Dark Tourism represents a challenge to ordinary travels.
The Cappuccini’s Catacombs, a place where life and death meet.
Palermo is the city where anything can be found!
This is the reason why we are going to explore one of the most awesome destinations.
Entering a place like is an exciting adventure. Moreover this will surely inspire a strong, gripping, eerie feeling, something beyond anything experienced so far compared to other ordinary tourist attractions. Literally a first class Sicilian “scanto” (scare).
Palermo’s Catacombs of the Cappuccini was originally meant to serve as the burial ground of the convent’s monks, but unforeseen circumstances drove it to development to the current state.
When the Friars were in the process of exhuming the corpses of their spiritual brothers, intending to transfer them to a new burial ground, they were surprised to uncover what appeared to be forty-five of their perfectly and naturally mummified confreres. This was interpreted as a clear sign of celestial manifestation and a blessing, therefore the friars decided they would display the mummies in niches located along the walls of the catacomb’s corridor, rather than rebury them in the originally intended site.
The discovery of the mummified corpses brought fame to the convent, which in turn allowed Palermo’s Catacombs of the Cappuccini to expand and add numerous extra corridors. What was originally intended to be a “private” burial site for the Friars, gradually grew into what can now be effectively considered a Museum of Death.
We highly recommend visiting this extraordinary place. The “Museo delle Catacombe” is a key destination in the path to discovering the diverse and varied landscape of Palermo’s less known tourist attraction.
Keep eXploring with us!
Editor: Erik Jerne
