The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, with their solemn and macabre procession of mummified bodies, hold a truly chilling and timeless marvel: the body of Rosalia Lombardo, a two-year-old girl who died in 1920. Known to visitors as the “Sleeping Beauty,” her remains are astonishingly well-preserved, her face still serene, her eyelashes and blonde hair seemingly untouched by time.

The secret to Rosalia’s remarkable preservation was a mystery for decades, fueling local legends and theories. It was not until the early 21st century that a biological anthropologist, Dario Piombino-Mascali, discovered a manuscript by Alfredo Salafia, the embalmer hired by Rosalia’s grieving father. The document revealed the “magic formula” Salafia used: a unique chemical cocktail injected into her body.

The case of Rosalia Lombardo is a fascinating intersection of modern science and human emotion. While her body is a testament to the embalmer’s forgotten art, it is also a reminder of a father’s profound grief and his desperate attempt to hold onto his daughter. Today, while some signs of degradation are beginning to appear on her face, Rosalia’s body remains a stunning example of anthropogenic mummification.