Skulls in a Capuchin Ossuary Postcard

San Clemente Basilica and Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, Rome 9 of 26 Uncover eons of religious belief at San Clemente Basilica, a 12th-century basilica built on top of a many-frescoed fourth-century church—itself built over a secular first-century home that stands next to a second-century temple used by an all-male fertility cult worshipping the sun god Mithras. Those with darker leanings can explore the Capuchin ossuary underneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione, a 10-minute walk away, where the bones of 4,000 monks were used to artistically decorate the crypt in the form of chandeliers, coats of arms, and archways. Keep a lookout for a toddler’s skeleton turned flying grim reaper. basilicasanclemente.com