The Capuchin Catacombs, officially the Catacombe dei Cappuccini, are an underground cemetery beneath the Capuchin convent in Palermo, Sicily. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
This guide was updated in August 2026. The official website currently lists continuous summer opening hours, 9:00 to 17:30 with no midday closure. This differs from the split morning-and-afternoon schedule still shown on many other guides, which applies outside the summer period.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Summer (current): daily, 9:00–17:30, continuous, last entry 17:10. Outside summer: mornings 9:00–12:30, afternoons 15:00–17:30 |
| Ticket prices | Full €5.00, reduced €3.00. Payable only at the ticket office |
| Address | Piazza Cappuccini 1, 90129 Palermo |
| Nearest transport | Palermo Centrale railway station, about 10 minutes’ walk; several bus routes stop nearby |
| Typical visit length | 30 minutes to 1 hour |
Capuchin Catacombs opening hours
The Capuchin Catacombs opening hours currently run daily from 9:00 to 17:30, with continuous hours and no midday closure. Last entry is at 17:10.
This continuous schedule applies for the summer period. Outside summer, the official website switches to split hours: mornings 9:00 to 12:30 and afternoons 15:00 to 17:30, both with last entry 20 minutes before closing. The catacombs appear to open every day of the year, including Sundays and public holidays.
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Capuchin Catacombs ticket prices
A full-price ticket costs €5.00 and a reduced ticket costs €3.00.
Tickets can only be bought at the ticket office, using cash or card. The management states that no online sellers are authorised, so avoid third-party websites claiming to sell advance tickets. Large groups should call ahead on +39 091 6527389 to arrange a visit.
The Capuchin Catacombs are not included in any official city pass or combined ticket, since the site is run independently by the Capuchin friars rather than the regional museum network. Some private tour operators sell guided tours that pair the catacombs with Monreale Cathedral or Palermo Cathedral.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026.
How to get to the Capuchin Catacombs
The nearest railway station is Palermo Centrale, about a 10-minute walk away. Bus routes 104, 106, 108, 109, 118, 124, 327 and 442 all stop near the catacombs; from Palermo Centrale, bus 124 runs close to Piazza Cappuccini.
On foot from Piazza Indipendenza, near the Royal Palace, the walk takes about 15 minutes along Via Cappuccini and Via Pindemonte. From the historic centre at Quattro Canti, allow around 30 minutes on foot.
Parking at the Capuchin Catacombs
Piazza Cappuccini, directly in front of the entrance, functions as an informal car park with space for around 30 vehicles.
Arriving early is advisable in summer, since the square can fill quickly during busy periods.
How long to spend at the Capuchin Catacombs
Most visitors need 30 minutes to an hour to walk through the corridors and view the exhibits.
There are no information panels inside. Visitors wanting historical context often prepare beforehand or join a guided tour.
Accessibility at the Capuchin Catacombs
The catacombs are not wheelchair accessible. Visitors reach the underground galleries by stairs, with no lift or ramp available.
The site is also not adapted for visually impaired visitors.
Inside the Capuchin Catacombs: what to see
The catacombs hold an estimated 8,000 embalmed and mummified remains, arranged in corridors by gender, social class and profession.
Corridors are dedicated to friars, men, women, professionals, and children, with some family groups displayed together. The best-known exhibit is the Chapel of Santa Rosalia, containing the remains of Rosalia Lombardo, a child who died in 1920 and remains strikingly well preserved.
Photography and filming are not permitted, and touching the remains is prohibited. Iron grilles protect several of the corridors.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip |
|---|
| Visit early morning or late afternoon, since the catacombs draw large tour groups around midday. |
| Wear comfortable shoes, as the underground corridors have uneven and sometimes narrow flooring. |
| Bring cash or a card for the ticket office, since tickets cannot be bought online in advance. |
| Dress modestly, as the site forms part of an active Capuchin convent and church. |
| The visit is self-guided, so consider arranging a private guide beforehand for historical context. |
Frequently asked questions about the Capuchin Catacombs
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the site suitable for children? | It can be distressing for young children, given the graphic nature of the display. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | No, tickets are sold only at the ticket office on arrival. |
| Is the site open on Sundays? | Yes, it is open daily, including Sundays and public holidays. |
| Is photography allowed inside? | No, photography and filming are not permitted anywhere in the catacombs. |
| Is the site wheelchair accessible? | No, access is by stairs only, with no lift or ramp. |
Things to do near the Capuchin Catacombs
The Church of Santa Maria della Pace, attached to the same convent, stands directly above the catacombs. Palazzo dei Normanni and the Cappella Palatina lie about 15 to 20 minutes away on foot, toward the historic centre.
Palermo Cathedral, with its distinctive mixture of architectural styles, is a similar distance away. Piazza Indipendenza, a major transport hub, lies along the walking route back into town.
Alternative attractions
The Catacomb of Porta d’Ossuna, in Palermo itself, is the city’s largest early Christian catacomb. The Crypt of the Priests in Gangi, about 90 minutes’ drive into the Madonie mountains, displays around 100 mummified clergy.
The crypt beneath Santa Maria dei Greci in Agrigento, about 2 hours away, contains a smaller historic mummification chamber. The crypt of Palermo Cathedral, a short walk from the historic centre, holds 23 sarcophagi and tombs of former archbishops.
The Cripta dei Cocchieri, another underground crypt in Palermo’s historic centre, is occasionally open to the public as part of guided tours of the city’s hidden crypts.
More Sicily travel
Other Sicily travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to the Palermo Botanic Gardens.
- See the monster statues at Villa Palagonia in Bagheri near Palermo.
- What to expect at Palazzo Conte Federico in Palermo.
- Get a history fix at the Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum in Palermo.
- What you should know before visiting the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.
