Top Rome Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises - page 5

It was a totally fascinating, "other-worldly" - and a little frightening - experience on every level. Truly unforgettable. Here is what I wrote on Facebook: REMARKABLE REMAINS: ‘That which you are, we once were; that which we are you shall be.’ – Quote displayed at the entrance to the Capuchin Crypt The Capuchin Crypt beneath Rome’s church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini is not for the faint of heart. It’s quite shocking at first and I’ll admit that I was very uncomfortable as I entered. But my perspective changed (just a little) when I realized it is a sincere, albeit disturbing, symbol of the fleeting nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the need to prepare our souls for the hereafter. “Macabre.” “Horrifying.” “Striking.” “Grotesque.” “Fascinating.” These adjectives and more have been used by such literary luminaries as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Mark Twain when describing this place. The Capuchins themselves regard it as a source of peace and joy, a reminder to focus on eternity, not earthly life. All seem accurate. The church where the crypt is located was built in the early 1600s. It is the headquarters of the Capuchin Order of Friars, an offshoot of the Franciscans. When they first moved into the church in the 1630s, they brought the remains of hundreds of their fellow friars and buried them under the church. From there, until 1870, nearly 4,000 friars and destitute Romans who had nowhere to be buried, were laid to rest in the crypt. It has six small chapels with skeletal decorations that represent the transient nature of human life: Crypt of the Skulls, Crypt of the Tibias and Femurs, Crypt of the Pelvis, Crypt of the Skeletons of Children, Chapel of the Mass, and Crypt of the Resurrection. It was a chilling, fascinating and sobering experience. As we walked past and peered into the dimly lit spaces casting shadows here and there and containing grinning skulls and bones arranged into all kinds of artistic configurations, you could have heard a pin drop. Our small tour group of 18 seemed to collectively hold its breath. I was relieved when we exited into a brightly-lit gift shop on our way out. Signing the guest book, I couldn’t help but think of a quote from a famous song by The Eagles: “You can check out anytime you want, but you can never leave.” It was bizarre that it popped into my head, but I guess it was my brain’s way of lightening the mood just a bit.

As a Catholic, this was a profound experience for me. I didn't realize when I booked it that we were going to witness the pope's final public audience of the Jubilee Year when the Holy Doors are open. Our guide was wonderful and obtained the very best seats possible for us to see Pope Leo up close. I could practically reach out and touch him when the "pope mobile" stopped right in front of our group. And I was able to get some incredible photos! There was a ceremony and a papal blessing that left me in tears. Everything about this tour was magical and I am so happy that I included it as part of my Christmas visit to Rome.

We truly enjoyed our tour with Mario. His knowledge was impressive and stories humorous. We still had a line, but it beat the long queue of people waiting in the hot sun to buy tickets. We moved through the organized chaos effienciently and at the right pace to marvel at the relics.