The Museum of the Order of São Francisco, which includes the church of the former convent, the Church of the Third Order of São Francisco, and the House of Dispatch, harbors a true hidden gem beneath the ground: the Catacomb Cemetery. This subterranean space, which has recently piqued the interest of visitors, is managed by Analdina Rocha, the museum's technical director who has dedicated 25 years to this unique site.

The Catacomb Cemetery began construction in 1746, following a fire that destroyed a poor brother’s hostel. The Venerable Third Order of São Francisco decided to create a cemetery and, above it, a house for Dispatch and Secretariat. Initially, the first 12 tombs were designated for the administrative body of the Order.

The first phase of the cemetery featured ground-level tombs with walls above and small urn vaults, as well as an altar for funeral rites. In 1795, with the construction of the current Church of the Third Order of São Francisco, the Order began building a new cemetery beneath the church’s pavement. The third phase, in 1802, expanded the space with a new extension beneath the pavement of the Chapel of Santo António, linking the new and old cemeteries.

The last burial in the Catacomb Cemetery took place in 1866, after which the Order began using the Agramonte Cemetery. The exact number of bodies interred in the Catacomb Cemetery has never been counted, but today the site attracts around 1,500 visitors daily, making it a popular part of the museum's tour.

The Catacomb Cemetery is particularly intriguing to international visitors. The museum director notes that while Brazilians initially find the space uncomfortable, they are often pleasantly surprised to discover familiar names. In contrast, French, Spanish, and Mexican visitors, due to their cultural and religious perspectives on death, tend to exhibit a more natural curiosity about the cemetery.

In addition to the tombs, the museum displays interesting items such as old alms boxes and processional litters. Analdina Rocha assures that the experience of the Catacomb Cemetery is both enriching and satisfying, leaving visitors intrigued by the rich history of this remarkable location.