Rosalia Lombardo

My interest in Rosalia Lombardo, also known as The Sleeping Beauty, started after seeing her featured in an episode of Scariest Places on Earth that used to run on ABCFamily.  This was back before I knew about the wonders of the internet (I was a late bloomer,) so I spent years remembering this little girl and being unable to look up appropriate information on her.  Thankfully, that was rectified when I joined the Age of Enlightenment.

Unfortunately, there isn't a wealth of information to be had.  Rosalia was born in December of 1918 in Italy and died just two short years later on December 6, 1920.  A recent investigation produced non-invasive CT scans of her body from which doctors upheld reports that she died of bronchopneumonia.  More detailed information of the CT scans can be found here.  Her father, rumored to be Mario Lombardo, secured permission for his child to be entombed inside the Capuchin Catacombs  in Palermo, Italy (one of the last bodies to be interred there) and contracted Alfredo Salafia to prepare her body for the afterlife.  She was placed inside a glass coffin, covered in a silk blanket, and adorned with an amulet of the Virgin Mary.

Dario Piombino-Mascali, who has published a study on the mummies of the Capuchin Catacombs, tracked down Salafia's descendants in 2009.  He discovered the formula used to preserve the body from remaining memoirs and paperwork.  The embalming process included formalin (a disinfectant and tissue hardener,) salt (to leach moisture from the tissue,) zinc (a petrifying agent,) salicylic acid (another preservative,) and glycerin (to preserve the organs and prevent over-drying.)  The results of this formula have been remarkable, and her internal organs remain intact but for minor shrinkage.

An unusual phenomenon has garnered attention from the the paranormal community.  Temperature and atmospheric variations inside the catacombs cause Rosalia's eyelids to appear as though they are opening, revealing a sliver of intact eyeballs.  This has led some to believe her spirit remains near her body, and some intrepid paranormal enthusiasts claim her body can become host to any wandering spirits in the area.

Recently, Rosalia's body has begun to show signs of deterioration.  Her skin is becoming discolored and spotted, and her hair is lightening from its natural brunette color.  Some blame this on changes in the atmosphere inside the tomb while others claim it's a result of the high traffic she draws to the catacombs and camera flashes.  For a time, a National Geographic expedition moved her glass coffin into a sealed, glass enclosure filled with nitrogen gas to prevent decay, but her body has since been removed and returned to its original location inside the catacombs.

The Footage That Started My Research

Note:  The Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo are considered a must-see tourist attraction.  If you're ever in the area, it might make a fascinating destination.