Catacombs
Discovered in 1970 during renovation work, the Catacombs of the Educandato Maria Adelaide reveal a hidden crypt that holds the remains of the nuns of San Francesco di Sales, along with poignant stories such as that of Sister Maria Maddalena Clotilde Grandjoan, whose clandestine burial during the cholera epidemic of 1837 speaks of fraternal love and enduring sanctity in this place steeped in mystery.
Catacombe
In 1970, during some works at the Educandato Maria Adelaide, an extraordinary discovery was made: a hidden crypt, forgotten over time, that guarded the embers of the nuns of San Francesco de Sales. This crypt, rectangular in shape and covered by a barrel vault with lunettes, still has traces of the niches where once the bodies of nuns were deposited. On the lower level, there are the “embalming drainages” (“colatoi”), where the bodies were dried before being transferred to the ossuary, accessible through a central trapdoor. The original access staircase, with its sandstone steps, is now walled, but once led to this secret place.
But the history of these catacombs doesn’t end here. During the cleaning of the floor, two elements of great interest emerged. The first is a soft color panel of ceramic bricks, which contains an inscription in memory of Sister Maddalena Zangarna, who died in 1749.This panel, surprisingly well preserved, testifies to the antiquity and sacredness of this place.
The second discovery is tied to a touching and even romantic story. During the cholera epidemic of 1837, two nuns from Fribourg arrived in Palermo.
One of them, Sister Maria Maddalena Clotide Grandjoan, died on 3rd August of the same year, shortly after her arrival.
Her sisters, bound by deep affection, did not want to separate from her body. Since the law forbade to bury the dead bodies inside the churches, they decided to act in secret: at night, they dug a hole in the floor of the crypt and deposited the body of Sister Maria Maddalena, along with a small plaque that reported her name and history.
Today, walking in these silent spaces, we can still perceive the solemn atmosphere and mystery that surrounds this place.
The Catacombs of the Educandato Maria Adelaide aren’t only a deposit of ancient remains, but a silent witness to the stories and secrets that have been consumed here.
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Audioguides curated by the students of Educandato Statale Maria Adelaide
School Year 2024/2025
