Santa Maria della Concezione
​dei CappuCcini

Map
The Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, Rome.
Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini
Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini is a 17th century convent church, which belongs to Capuchins.

The dedication is to the Virgin Mary under her aspect of the Immaculate Conception. This was the first church in Rome with this particular dedication, as the Franciscan Friars Minor Capuchin, for whom it was built, were fervent proponents of the doctrine before it became a dogma.
Interior, Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, Rome
Nave
The church was designed by Antonio Casoni and funded by Cardinal Antonio Barberini, whose brother was Pope Urban VIII (r. 1623-44). On September 8th 1630, Urban VIII celebrated the first Mass in the church. 
Tomb slab of Cardinal Antonio Barberini, Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, Rome
Tomb Slab of Cardinal Antonio Barberini
Cardinal Antonio Barberini died in 1646 and is buried in the church. His tomb slab is one of the most laconic in the whole of Rome. Located at the end of the nave, directly in front of the high altar, it declares: HIC IACET PVLVIS CINIS ET NIHIL (Here lies dust ashes and nothing). There is neither name nor date.
Funerary monument to Alexander Sobieski by Camillo Rusconi, Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, Rome
Funerary Monument to Alexander Sobieski
The elegant funerary monument to Prince Alexander Sobieski is the work of the sculptor Camillo Rusconi (1658-1728). 

Prince Aleksander Benedykt Stanisław Sobieski was the son of John III, King of Poland. He died in Rome on November 19th, 1714, having recently become a Capuchin friar. Camillo Rusconi died in 1728 and is buried in the church. ​​
Crypt of the Capuchins, Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, Rome
Crypt
The crypt of the church of is decorated with the skulls and bones of thousands of Capuchin monks, who died between 1528 and 1870. The bodies (up to 4,000) were initially buried in the crypt, without coffins, in soil said to have been brought to Rome from the Holy Land. When the bodies had decayed the bones were added to the decorative displays. 

The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin was founded by Matteo da Bascio (1495-1552) in 1528. The origin of the ossuary, however, is shrouded in mystery. When the Capuchins moved into the church in 1631 they brought with them 300 cartloads full of the bones of fellow friars, which had been stored in a nearby convent. When, and why, they started to transform the bones into the displays we see today remains unknown.