Who doesn’t love to visit unusual places filled with lots of history and mystery! But are you so done with traveling to hills, rivers, oceans, and forests? If yes, visit these churches that will leave your jaw hanging with their mind-blowing and hard to believe decorations done with human bones! No we are not exaggerating or talking about movie sets; these churches do exist for real and are considered as a very holy place. These ‘ossuaries’ are a must visit, once in a lifetime at least.
1. Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora, Czech Republic:
It is a Roman Catholic Chapel which is situated in the Czech Republic. It is made below the Cemetery of All Saints. This church has a compelling story behind its origin. It has a massive collection of human bones, from which, all the decorations of this holy place are done. The entrance is decorated with a cross having human skulls around it!
This innovative ossuary was constructed in the 15th century, as there was not enough room in the cemetery. A local woodcarver was the man behind the arrangement of human bones in this decorative and mind-blowing manner.
The colossal chandelier hanging in the center would surely grab all your attention as it is made entirely of bones, and the arrangement is actually fanciful.
The interior might give creeps to some, but to me it is an exceptional bone work done right with a high level of hard work, patience, knowledge, and creativity. People of earlier times tried to give a different touch to the house of god!
2. Capuchin Crypt – Rome, Italy
It is a small chapel in Rome, located beneath the church of Santa Maria Della Concezionel Dei Cappuccini. This place holds the bone remains of approximately 4000 monks (died between 1528 and 1870) believed to be from the ‘Order of Capuchin friars’. It is more of a peaceful sacred, place; one can come here to have the blessing of God and all these holy spirits!
As per the catholic order, they did not want this place to look macabre, instead they expected that the display of bones will give a message about life, its swift passage on earth and our mortality! What you surely might love is the creation of two little grim reapers, also sculpted from bones.
The final chapel has a sign stating, “As you are, we once were. As we are, you shall be one day”. Reading these lines standing in front of grim reapers can either give you a scary feeling or, if you are brave, it might give you a giggle! But whatever it is, the message is essentially true!
3. San Bernardino Alle Ossa, Milan (Italy):
Milan, apart from fashion, has something else to offer to its travelers, which they would have never thought about in their weirdest dreams. It is the Bone Church of San Bernardino Alle Ossa, which exhibits a remarkable arrangement of numerous human bones used for its interior. The ossuary has an octagonal plan, and the decorations are done in a ‘Baroque-style.’
This chapel has a church attached to it, which, from outside, seems like an ordinary church, but when you enter it, it’s like you have entered into an entirely different dimension. This place was constructed to hold the bones when the adjacent cemetery ran out of space.
The origin date of the church is around 1145 A.D., and it underwent many modifications until it took its final face in the year 1776, which is what we are witnessing at present!
The place has paintings from 16th to 18th century as well. But what will grab your attention are the human skulls arranged in such a skillful manner that they look like giant-sized pearls glued to the ceiling.
The strategical arrangement of big bones in the background and skulls in a symbolic cross is mind-boggling. The decoration of Skulls and bones might sounds gross to many, but it is an excellent way to protect and pay respect to the demised persons!
In short, the idea of developing bone churches was devised long back when a space constraint was felt in the cemetery, and there was no place left for burials. The Ossuaries are always associated with a church, showcasing the feeling that ‘no matter if not buried, they are still in the house of GOD!’
Aren’t these bone churches an amazing place to add into your travel list so that you will be visiting a site only a few have in your circle! 😉