The natural mummification of the Mummies of Venzone is due to particular environmental conditions that occurred in some tombs of the Duomo where Hypha bombicina Pers developed, a mold with the property of dehydrating tissues, inhibiting their decomposition.

The remains date back to a period from 1348 to 1881, the year in which the cemetery inside the Duomo was reclaimed and relocated to the current site, outside the Historic Center. The mummification process of the bodies generally occurred within the first year of their burial.

The oldest mummy, the Gobbo, was discovered in 1647 during some expansion works of the Duomo; the body was found in a 14th-century tomb located below the current Chapel of the Rosary.

The other mummies date back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

In 1845, the mummies of Venzone were moved from the Crypt of the Duomo to the upper Chapel and, following the strong earthquake shocks of May 6, 1976, 15 of the 21 mummies kept there were extracted from the ruins of the Rotonda di San Michele, all the bodies were substantially intact.

The Mummies of Venzone, a total of 5 bodies currently visitable, are kept in the Crypt of the cemetery Chapel of San Michele (13th century), located in the churchyard of the Duomo of St. Andrew the Apostle.

LOCATION: Cemetery Chapel of San Michele, Piazzetta Duomo – 33010 VENZONE (UD)

Opening: annual

Opening hours: summer 09.00-19.00 winter 09.00-17.00