Capucchin Crypt in Rome

We visited the Capuchin Crypt last summer. Admission is free, but a donation is requested.

Opening hours: 9-12 noon; 3-6 p.m. Closed Thursdays

I think the key to enjoying the crypt is to not have too high of expectations. I liked it and it was one of the things that I really wanted to see, but knew it wasn't going to be some major site going into it.

It is a good distance from the Vatican. It is pretty darn close to the Spanish Steps which is almost opposite of the Vatican. Unless you are already going in that direction - I would not plan on walking to it from the Vatican just to see the crypt. But if you are spending the day walking across Rome and you find yourself in that area - I would definitley say it is worth a pop-in.

We visited the Crypt in November 2007. It was a good distance from anything in my opinion...we took the metro per the RS tour book...and really had to hunt for it. It's attached to an operating church I do believe so don't look for big signs or anything. It's very tastfully done from the exterior as a sacred place should be. The woman at the door is sure to "shush" you if you talk to loudly. Consider yourself in church when you go. All in all it was quite the experience for me.

Easiest to take the metro from the Vatican area. The crypts are a short walk up the Via Venato from the Barberini metro stop, on the right side of the street.

I'm on a quest to see the unusual when I travel...and this fit the bill. It's pretty interesting, but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it if you're not nearby. Funny the prior poster commented on the "shush" lady - when I visited she said this (over a loudspeaker) about 20 times in 10 minutes. I'd do a Google map before you go to make sure you find it, I agree you can walk right past without noticing.

This is in re: the "shushing": sorry to be off-topic.... but I thought it ironic while in the Sistine Chapel that the employees alternated between yelling "NO PHOTO!!" and "SHHHH!!" =-)
I didn't go to the crypts, but if it's near the Spanish Steps and you're staying near the Vatican, it would take a good 30 minutes to walk from there. Best to get on the Metro at Ottaviano (or Cipro if you're closer to that one) and take that instead (tho I DID walk from our place about a mile beyond the Vatican, across the river and did Rick's recommended night walk across Rome. It was a LOT of walking!).