Palermo, the capital city of Sicily

A man and a child placed in niches in the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo. Originally the catacombs were intended only for the dead friars, but in the following centuries it became a status symbol to be entombed here. Each new body was placed in a temporary niche and later placed into a more permanent place. As long as financial contributions by the relatives continued, the body remained in its proper place but when they did not send money any more, the body was put aside on a shelf until payment was resumed.