Capuchin Crypt: Tickets, Hours, and Essential Visitor Tips

The Capuchin Crypt offers a haunting yet fascinating glimpse into Rome's macabre history. Its unique bone displays make it a must-visit—reserve tickets in advance to avoid lines.

The Capuchin Crypt, located beneath the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini in Rome, is a haunting yet fascinating site adorned with the skeletal remains of over 3,700 Capuchin friars.

Its six small chapels, decorated with human bones, offer a unique glimpse into the friars’ views on life, death, and mortality.

If you’re a history enthusiast or intrigued by the macabre, this crypt is a must-see on your Roman itinerary.

This article covers everything you must know before booking tickets for the Capuchin Crypt tour.

Top Tickets

# Guided tour of the Capuchin Crypt
# Guided tour of Roman Crypts and Catacombs

It’s highly recommended to book your Capuchin Crypt tickets in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.

Key takeaways

Buying tickets online helps you avoid long lines at the venue, especially during peak hours, and guarantees your preferred time slot

You can either choose a 1-hour guided tour of the Capuchin Crypt or a 3.5-hour guided tour of Rome’s Crypts and Catacombs. For the Capuchin Crypt tour, the meeting point is next to the fountain on Piazza Barberini

For the Capuchin Crypt guided tour, adults (18+) pay €42, children (6-17 years) pay €40, and kids under six enter for free. The Roman Crypts and Catacombs tour costs €60 for adults (15+) and €55 for children (2-14 years)

The Capuchin Crypt can be explored in about 1 hour. For a more detailed experience, you may spend up to 2 hours

Since the Capuchin Crypt is a place of worship, visitors should dress modestly (covering shoulders, knees, and backs) and maintain a respectful demeanor. Photography and filming are prohibited during the tour

What’s ahead

Things to know before booking tickets

You can book tickets for Capuchin Crypt online or at the attraction. However, purchasing at the attraction may involve long wait times, especially during peak hours. Online tickets help you skip the queue, are often cheaper, and allow you to choose a preferred time slot in advance. Booking online also ensures availability and prevents last-minute sell-outs. After the purchase, tickets are emailed to you, and you can enter by showing the e-ticket on your smartphone—no printouts needed.

Capuchin Crypt tickets

There are different ways to explore this attraction.

You can either book a Guided tour of the Crypt or a Guided tour of Roman Crypts and Catacombs to learn about the history of Rome’s ancient underground chapel.

Both these options come with a tour guide. 

Guided tour of Capuchin Crypt

Capuchin Crypt Guided TourPin
Image: getyourguide.com

This spine-chilling guided tour will allow you to discover one of Rome’s hidden cultural gems.

Witness the unsettling vision of 3,700 Capuchin friars’ skeletons and bones heaped and arranged as chapel decor.

On an evocative underground tour, learn the amazing tales of the creation of this lesser-known Roman cultural masterpiece. 

An English-speaking guide will conduct the 1-hour guided tour.

A maximum of 10 guests can participate in this tour.

The guided tour starts at 9 am. While booking tickets, you can select a preferred time slot.

Remember to reach the meeting point 10 minutes before the scheduled time. 

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €42
Child (6 to 17 years): €40
Child (up to 6 years): Free

Buy This Ticket

Recommended


Guided tour of Crypts and Catacombs

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Image: TripAdvisor.com

Uncover dark ancient rituals lying beneath the surface of modern Rome!

Below are some of the highlights of the tour:

– Explore Rome’s religious traditions in-depth with a knowledgeable guide as you delve into life over the ages.

– Discover sacred catacombs beneath cathedrals, occult shrines within churches, and graveyards filled with skeletal bones.

– Visit each location in a private air-conditioned coach; it’s ancient Rome with contemporary conveniences!

The guided tour lasts for about 3.5 hours.

You will tour with a group of a maximum of 20 people and an expert English-speaking tour guide.

Ticket Prices

Adult (15+ years): €60
Child (2 to 14 years): €55
Infant (up to 1 year): Free

Buy This Ticket

Buy a Roma Pass and visit one or two of Rome’s top attractions with access to public transport. Choose either a 48-hour or a 72-hour pass and get direct entry into the city’s famous gems. 

In the 19th century, the great American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne visited the Capuchin Crypt, also sometimes called the ‘Bone Church of Rome.’ And the outcome? He ended up writing about it in “The Marble Faun“—“The arrangement of the unearthed skeletons is what makes the special interest of the cemetery. There is no possibility of describing how ugly and grotesque is the effect, combined with a certain artistic merit, nor how much perverted ingenuity has been shown in this queer way.”

Frequently asked questions

Here are some questions tourists ask before purchasing their tickets for Capuchin Crypt in Rome.

Does the Crypt offer free tickets?

Yes, entry at the attraction is free for children aged six years and younger.

Can I buy tickets at the venue?

Yes, tickets for the Crypt are available at the venue’s ticket office. However, the popular timeslots may sell out due to high demand, so getting them online in advance is better.

Do we need to print online tickets?

Visitors can present their tickets on mobile devices, but printed tickets are also accepted at the Crypt of Capuchins. You can show the ticket on your mobile to the guide at the meeting point.

What is the Crypt’s arrival time?

Tours of this attraction have designated time slots, so it is important to arrive at least 15 minutes in advance. You must arrive in advance of your timeslot to pass security check well before your tour begins.

Does the Capuchin Crypt offer discounts for locals, students, or military personnel?

Yes, the attraction offers discounted admission tickets for children aged 6 to 17 years, but there are no dedicated discounts for students or military personnel.

Does Roma Pass include access to the attraction?

The Roma Pass has not yet included this attraction in its go-to sightseeing list.

What is the Crypt of Capuchin’s refund policy?

This attraction has a flexible cancellation policy. You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before your visit for a full refund.

How to reschedule the Crypt’s ticket?

You can change the time and date of your visit up to 24 hours before your scheduled visit.

What is the Crypts rain policy?

The attraction is an all-weather experience, so all tickets are final.

Is the Capuchin Crypt suitable for children?

The tour can be unsettling for some children due to the display of human bones. Parents should consider their child’s sensitivity to such sights before visiting.

Are there any religious or cultural customs to follow during the visit?

You must maintain a respectful demeanor and adhere to any specific instructions provided by the staff or tour guides. Silence is often encouraged to maintain a solemn atmosphere.

After soaking in all that bone art, don’t forget to visit Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, the church next door. Because after staring at bones, a little time in a peaceful church is the perfect way to cap off your day!

Timings

Crypt of Capuchins Rome opens at 10 am and closes at 7 pm daily.

The last admission is at 6.30 pm. 

How long does the tour take

Capuchin Crypt takes almost 1 hour to explore.

If you are fond of history, art, and culture and wish to learn more about the Bone Chapel, you may need 2 hours. 

Best time to visit

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Image: Museoecriptacappuccini.it

The best time to visit the Capuchin Crypt is as soon as it opens at 10 am.

When the Crypt opens, the crowd is less, which gives you sufficient space and time to stroll inside and cover every exhibit. 

On weekends, the attraction experiences a huge rush.

Inside the Capuchin Crypt

The Capuchin Crypt, Rome’s bone chapel, has six rooms, five of which include an unusual exhibit of human bones thought to have been removed from the remains of friars who passed away between 1528 and 1870. 

Capuchin Crypt Rooms

– Crypt of the Resurrection

– The Mass Chapel

– Crypt of the Skulls

– Crypt of the Pelvises

– Crypt of the Leg Bones and Thigh Bones

– Crypt of the Three Skeletons

Things to remember

– Photography and filming are not allowed at Rome Capuchin Crypt tours. If you want special authorization, all the information you need can be found in the FEC section (Fund for Religious Buildings). 

– Wear comfortable shoes & clothes. Please dress appropriately, as this is a place of worship (shoulders, knees, and backs must be covered). 

– You are not allowed to bring bags or large suitcases into the museum, but lockers are available free of charge. All objects have to be removed at the end of the visit.

– Strollers/baby carriages are prohibited during the Guided tour of Roman Crypts and Catacombs.

– The Guided tour of Roman Crypts and Catacombs is not recommended if you are claustrophobic & can’t accommodate guests in a wheelchair or require special assistance.

Fact Check
You’ll finish the tour in the last chapel with the special message ‘Quello che voi siete noi eravamo, quello che noi siamo voi sarete’ translated, “Exactly what you are now, we once were, what we are now will become you.” Basically, it’s history’s most poetic way of saying, “You’re next!”

How to reach

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Image: HistoryHit.com

The Capuchin Crypt is located on Via Vittorio Veneto near Piazza Barberini in Rome.

Address: Via Vittorio Veneto 27, 00187 Rome. Get Directions

The attraction is accessible by public and private transportation.

By Bus

The nearest bus stop is Barberini (available buses: 52, 53, 61, 63, 80, 83, 100, 150F, 160, 590, C3, MA, n90, n201, and nMA). 

The bus stop is just 1-minute walk from the attraction.

Another bus stop near the Crypt is Barberini, on the other side of the road (available buses: 61, 62, 85, 492, 590, n5, n46, n543, nMA). 

The bus stop is just a 2-minute walk.

By Subway 

The nearest subway station is Barberini (Metro Line A), just 1 minute walk away.

By Car

If you are driving, Google Maps can help you find your way.

You can find a lot of parking spaces nearby.

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Researched & written by
Jamshed is a versatile traveler, equally drawn to the vibrant energy of city escapes and the peaceful solitude of remote getaways. On some trips, he indulges in resort hopping, while on others, he spends little time in his accommodation, fully immersing himself in the destination. A passionate foodie, Jamshed delights in exploring local cuisines, with a particular love for flavorful non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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