Capuchin Crypt Visitors Guide
Plan your visit: from the museum's Caravaggio to the six bone chapels, here's what to see and how to get there.
A visit to the Capuchin Crypt is a two-part experience: first, the modern museum that explains the history and spirituality of the Capuchin Order, and second, the descent into the 17th-century crypt itself. This guide will help you navigate both sections to fully appreciate this unique Roman site. For planning, also consult our pages on opening hours and the visitor rules.
What to See Inside
The Capuchin Museum
Your visit begins in the museum, which provides essential context. You'll learn about the Capuchin Friars, a reformist branch of the Franciscans, and their values of simplicity and piety. The highlight of the museum is Caravaggio's powerful painting, St. Francis in Prayer, a masterpiece of chiaroscuro that is worth the price of admission alone.
The Six Crypt Chapels
After the museum, you descend into the crypt itself, a corridor connecting six small chapels. Five of these are intricately decorated with the bones of friars: the Crypt of the Skulls, the Crypt of the Pelvises, the Crypt of the Leg and Thigh Bones, the Crypt of the Three Skeletons, and the Crypt of the Resurrection. Each room uses different bones to create stunning, if unsettling, patterns, from floral motifs to chandeliers.
The Message of Memento Mori
The final chapel contains the famous inscription: "What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you will be." This is the key to understanding the crypt. It is not a morbid display but a profound meditation on life, death, and resurrection. It encourages visitors to reflect on their own mortality and the spiritual life, just as the friars did for centuries.
How to Get There
The Capuchin Crypt is conveniently located at Via Vittorio Veneto, 27, 00187 Rome, near Piazza Barberini. Its central location makes it easily accessible.
By Metro: The closest station is Barberini on Line A. From the station exit, it is a very short walk (less than 5 minutes) up Via Vittorio Veneto to the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione.
By Bus: Numerous bus lines stop near Piazza Barberini, including routes 52, 53, 61, 62, 63, 80, 83, and 160. From the piazza, follow the signs for the museum entrance.
Visitor FAQs
Practical tips for your visit.