Photo Credit: File Photo
The “Sleeping Beauty” of the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo, Sicily.
One of the most remarkable mummies ever preserved, the body of Rosalia Lombardo lies in a glass coffin deep within the catacombs. Her story is both poignant and mysterious.
The Tragic Tale
Rosalia Lombardo was born on December 13, 1918, in Palermo, Sicily. Sadly, she succumbed to pneumonia, a complication of the Spanish flu, just one week before her second birthday, on December 6, 1920. Her grieving father, Mario Lombardo, sought a way to preserve her memory forever.
The Embalming Process
Mario turned to Alfredo Salafia, an embalmer, to perform the delicate task of preserving Rosalia’s remains. Salafia’s embalming techniques were extraordinary, resulting in Rosalia’s exceptionally well-preserved body. X-rays reveal that all her organs remain remarkably intact.
The Glass Coffin
Rosalia’s body now rests in a small chapel at the end of the catacomb’s street. Encased in a glass-covered coffin atop a wooden pedestal, she appears as if merely sleeping. However, a 2009 National Geographic photograph revealed signs of discoloration, indicating the onset of decomposition. To address this, Rosalia was moved to a drier spot in the catacombs and placed in a hermetically sealed glass enclosure with nitrogen gas to prevent further decay.
The Secret Formula
In 2012, Capuchin catacombs curator Dario Piombino-Mascali discovered a handwritten manuscript by Salafia. This document revealed the embalming formula used for Rosalia. It consisted of “one part glycerin, one part formalin saturated with zinc sulfate and zinc chloride, and one part of an alcohol solution saturated with salicylic acid.” Salafia injected this mixture into Rosalia’s body through a single-point injection, likely into her femoral artery.
The formalin killed bacteria, glycerin prevented desiccation, and salicylic acid eliminated fungi within the flesh. The zinc salts contributed to petrifaction, preserving her body remarkably well.
The Blinking Mummy
Rosalia Lombardo has achieved further notoriety due to a peculiar phenomenon: her eyes appear to open and close several times a day, revealing her intact blue irises. However, Capuchin catacombs curator Piombino-Mascali clarified that this is an optical illusion caused by changing light filtering through the side windows. Her eyes have never been completely closed.
Rosalia Lombardo’s story continues to captivate visitors. Would you be one of us because I’m certainly heading here the coming summer.
