Crypt of the Capuchin monks

     Beneath the Santa Maria della Concezione del Cappuccini (Our Lady of the Conception of the Capuchins) church in Rome is a sight which is either appalling or inspirational.  You decide.

     It is an elaborate crypt built between 1528 and 1870 which houses the bones of over 4000 Capuchin monks.  It's what their brother monks did with their bones which is either creepy or a gift to the world.  Guess which the monks thought it was.

     The monks, meaning to demonstrate the temporary nature of earthly life, lined walls and alcoves with skulls, arm bones, and leg bones, made lamps of arm bones, lined arches with skulls, and set up robed hooded skeletons as guards and guides in the tunnels.  It was as if Ed Gein were in charge of the interior decorating.

     The results can be viewed at www.cappucciniviaveneto.it.