Catacombs of Palermo

Deep down in the catacombs of Palermo more than one thousand mummies lie below a Capuchin monastery: One of the greatest collections of preserved bodies worldwide. They lie in alcoves, rest in open or closed coffins or hang on the walls. Among them, one the world's best preserved corpses: The little girl Rosalia Lombardo lies in her little casket as if she was sleeping - after more than ninety years. However, Rosalia and the other mummified cadavers are endangered. The preserved bodies in their old clothes are decomposing. Rosalia, too, has started to show signs of decay. In a large-scale research project, scientists specializing in mummies are fighting to preserve the remains of the dead citizens of Palermo.