The Immaculate Corpses of Dr Alfredo Salafia at the Palermo Catacombs (Palermo, Sicily, Italy)

The Immaculate Corpses of Dr Alfredo Salafia at the Palermo Catacombs (Palermo, Sicily, Italy)

The Palermo Catacombs in Sicily are the largest and most extraordinary repository of mummies in Europe. For over three centuries the preservation of bodies was conducted by monks from the Monastery of Santa Maria della Pace, which oversees the catacombs. By the early twentieth century, the preparation of select cadavers was taken over by Dr. Alfredo Salaria, whose employment gained him international renown as the finest mortician who had ever lived. This article considers his employment within the context of the history of the catacombs, and discusses what is known about his methods.
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