In 1599, Capuchin monks discovered that their catacombs contained a mysterious preservative that helped mummify the dead. As a result, more than 8,000 Sicilians from all walks of life chose to be buried here.

The corpses range in date from the late 1500s to 1920 and most were embalmed before...

The Oratorio del Rosario di Santa Cita is a small chapel in Palermo, Sicily, dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary.

The oratory was built in the 16th century in gratitude for the Virgin's miraculous intervention at the Battle of Lepanto (1571) against the Turks.

The stucco relief decoration...

In the 9th century, the Arab emirs built this majestic building. When they were ousted from Sicily, the building was transformed into a luxurious palace by the Normans, who extended it and made it even more beautiful. During the reign of Frederick II, the Palace enjoyed a period of splendor, and...

San Giovanni degli Eremeti was founded in 1132 and dedicated to St. John of the Hermits. Built on the grounds of a mosque, its architecture reflects Islamic traditions.

Although begun in 1566, most of the internal decoration of Santa Caterina in Palermo dates from the 17th and 18th centuries.

A powerful example of Sicilian Baroque, it overwhelms the senses with colors, textures, sculpture and marble inlay.

There are illusionistic ceiling frescoes (18th...