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Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio (Church of the Mummies), Monopoli

Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio (Church of the Mummies), Monopoli

Recommended by 18 hikers out of 19

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Location: Monopoli, Bari, Apulia, Italy

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2. Monopoli Old Town – View of Monopoli Old Town loop from Torre Egnazia

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3. Cala Porta Vecchia Beach – View of Monopoli Old Town loop from Monopoli

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Tips

Patrick

October 21, 2023

With its facade with images of skulls and skeletons, it is certainly the most special church in the region. Santa Maria del Suffragio, located in the historic center of Monopoli houses nine mummies, in addition to the body of Plautilla Indelli, the only embalmed child in Puglia.

Santa Maria del Suffragio was created after the Council of Trent, which led to the creation of churches characterized by somber ornaments and ossuaries.

The wooden portal in particular has a strong symbolic meaning. The entrance is surrounded by effigies of skulls from whose mouths emerge scrolls with "dark" warnings, like the famous Memento Mori ("Remember that you must die"). On the door are 14 different cassettes symbolizing the professions of the time, while in the center two mirrored skeletons hold up some parchments, reminding us that when faced with death, we are all equal, regardless of our social class.

The most macabre and fascinating part of the entire church is the so-called "Chapel of the Mummies", built in 1790 by Vito Antonio Martinelli. Nine mummified bodies, dressed in white, black and red tunics, are placed in the display cases on the walls.

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Elevation 20 m

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Wednesday 8 October

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See hikes here

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Location: Monopoli, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio (Church of the Mummies), Monopoli

1. Old Port of Monopoli – Cala Porta Vecchia Beach loop from Monopoli

2. Monopoli Old Town – View of Monopoli Old Town loop from Torre Egnazia

3. Cala Porta Vecchia Beach – View of Monopoli Old Town loop from Monopoli

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