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Chiesa dei Morti

Chiesa dei Morti, Urbania

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Chiesa dei Morti

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Chiesa dei Morti
4.5
373
#1 of 24 things to do in Urbania
Churches & Cathedrals
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The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
21 within 3 miles
La Maiolica Ristorante
109
230 ft$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • Diner
Casa della Tintoria
596
501 ft$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • Healthy
La Braverja
156
495 ft$$ - $$$ • Italian • Seafood • Mediterranean
Osteria da Doddo
635
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • Vegetarian Friendly
Ristorante Pizzeria La Loggia
218
345 ft$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Seafood
Enoteca Vin Italy
59
0.1 mi$ • Italian • Mediterranean • Wine Bar
Underground da Sabry
31
175 ft$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza
La Pecora Nera
140
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
Caffè del Teatro Urbania
65
505 ft$ • Dessert • Italian • Cafe
El Pignatin
115
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian
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Attractions
49 within 6 miles
Chiesa di San Francesco
6
2.5 ftHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Chiesa di Santa caterina
8
2.5 ftChurches & Cathedrals
Palazzo Ducale e Museo Civico
52
308 ftSpeciality Museums
Palazzo Comunale Di Urbania
7
371 ftHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings
Duomo di San Cristoforo
15
407 ftReligious Sites • Churches & Cathedrals
Museo di Storia dell'Agricoltura e Artigianato
6
308 ftSpeciality Museums • History Museums
Ponte del Riscatto
4
522 ftBridges
Chiesa dello Spirito Santo e Tempio Votivo
4
386 ftReligious Sites • Churches & Cathedrals
IAT Urbania
2
318 ftVisitor Centers
Obelisco di Piazza San Cristoforo
8
505 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
374 reviews
Excellent
204
Very good
125
Average
35
Poor
4
Terrible
6
zasiura
Norwich, UK103 contributions
dead good 2
Family
Tucked away at the back of a small church you enter a room that has 12 bodies in behind glass that are preserved dating back form 1800's Fantastic value for 2 Euros the guide speaks in a few languages and has a great story to tell for each. So interesting and worth finding.
Written May 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Alex K
Woking, UK19 contributions
Interesting, if slightly macabre!
Family
We came across this when staying nearby and it was well worth a visit. It is fairly macabre, but my two girls loved it for just that reason, whilst the explanations for the mummification and of the various "causes of death" were interesting for us adults. The guide did an excellent job of explaining in both English (for us) and German for the other visitors.
Written June 11, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
PortlandRover
Maine116 contributions
Excellent visit, which included an occurrence for which I have no explanation
Absolutely fascinating, enhanced by the detailed and superb commentary by docent Giovanni. After a general explanation of why the bodies are naturally mummified (actually three were chemically treated to produce mummification), he went from mummy to mummy explaining various known or surmised things about each one. A thief who was hanged, a young man whose chest was crushed by a horse, a woman who died at childbirth, a man who was stabbed, and so on.

One note: I'm not sure if this qualifies as a paranormal event, but something odd happened during my visit. I took pictures of all the mummies, including the one that was a doctor and a pharmacist (the only one that is in robes). All came out clear, but as I was leaving the small room, I noticed the picture of the doctor was now blurred. I took another one and confirmed that it was very clear. After lunch I was about to email the pictures to someone, and I saw the doctor's picture was again blurred. And blurred in an eerie way, as parts of the image looked like there had been motion of some sort. I took the picture with an iPhone SE.
Written September 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mike & Wendy
Luyksgestel, The Netherlands32 contributions
Something different
Couples
This little church is worth a visit. The bodies and their stories are macabre but it is also interesting and the guide made it very entertaining.
Written May 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
robertogalea
Buenos Aires, Argentina24 contributions
A real eye opener...
Couples
The guides (free with the 2 euro admission price) are knowledgeable about the history of the mummies kept in the church. The tour of how these mummies came to be mummified and the story behind each one of the mummies is a real eye opener. Don't miss this tour of about a half hour.
Written August 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
mmmtt
Bath62 contributions
Pinned behind glass
Solo
This place is a story of two halves: the first is that of the construction of the 'Church of the dead' itself. The second is the (much longer) saga of the unhappy deaths of those exhumed and displayed in glass cases in the chapel.

The guide, who indeed speaks only Italian, but is good at making himself understood, described the illnesses and deaths of each person with vim and a certain amount of relish. You are provided with an A4 sheet of paper, available in English, which explains the creation of the chapel and the date at which it was transferred to 'the Confraternity of Death', who aimed to help and comfort' the condemned, poor and destitute, for example by paying funeral expenses.

I find I'm still not sure quite what the story of the construction itself is, as such. I mean, they explain that these mummies were hoiked out of the ground as a result of the Napoleonic Edict and that a churchyard was built in which to hang the 18 mummies, but this does not really explain the motivation of the people who, upon finding said mummies, decided that the appropriate thing to do was bung 'em on display. Was the aim originally tourism, collecting cash from visitors to fund funeral expenses? Or was it a reaction based on the state of the bodies? I don't know, and I wish I did.

Oh, and it gets hot here, folks. Urbania's been hovering around the mid-thirty-degrees this July. In this weather, this chapel is fairly stuffy and smells faintly... musty. Combine the heat with well over a dozen stories of people dying in horrible ways ('this one died in childbirth. This one was buried alive; his muscles are tensed because he was trying to escape his fate; see how his diaphragm is flattened... this one was stabbed; this one was hanged as a thief... etc'). If you visit in similar weather, you would do well to consider making sure that you have a bottle of cold water handy in case you feel the need to head outside for a quick drink and a bit of a time out.

It was open from 4:30pm to 6:30 when I visited, but apparently times change with seasons, Urbania having some extremes of weather. The tourist information office in town can inform you of the best times to visit. At 2 euros it's not an expensive trip. Photography is allowed (but don't use a flash!)
Written July 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Don W
Port Macquarie, Australia78 contributions
Everything you never wanted to know
Couples
The dead come to life in this quirky attraction. The very friendly guide will explain the life history of each mummy, including cause of death, in Italian and limited English. A must see part of any visit to Urbania.
Written June 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Aniello S
Baronissi, Italy1,536 contributions
A really short visit
Following the suggestions of friends living in the neighborhood, I decided to visit this old church. When I arrived it was not late but they had already closed this museum. So, my visit was really fast and the time we had was not sufficient. I wish to return and have more time for visiting this curious place.
Written December 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Marco C
Milan, Italy130 contributions
Unusual place
Couples
Contrary to most of these places where mummified corpses are exposed, this church doesn’t look like a skeletons’ warehouse. The setting is respectful and the guide explanation reasonably short and interesting, it is also translated in English.
Written August 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Deborah H
80 contributions
Something Different
Something quite unusual but if in Urbania, worth a visit. The town itself is small with a small historic centre but features in the history of the area. Many visitors come here to learn the language and wrap themselves in medieval culture. Small but nice.
Written July 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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