Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Ponte Nossa Crocodile at the Santuario Madonna delle Lacrime Immacolate

Crocodile at the Santuario Madonna delle Lacrime Immacolate

This church, better known for its weeping portrait of the Virgin Mary, also houses the world's oldest existing piece of taxidermy.

Ponte Nossa, Italy

Added By
Max Cortesi
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The hanging crocodile.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
The hanging crocodile’s skin is shriveled and dry, suggesting it was embalmed.   Ago76 / CC BY-SA 3.0
Santuario Madonna delle Lacrime Immacolate   Ago76 / CC BY-SA 3.0
The crocodile in the sanctuary.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In the little town church of Ponte Nossa's Santuario Madonna delle Lacrime Immacolate (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Immaculate Tears, alternatively known as Santa Maria Annunziata) there is an important relic dangling from the rafters: a crocodile.

This is no ordinary stuffed croc though (if such a thing exists). Though its origins have been lost to the ages, the church has documents detailing the crocodile's removal from the church in 1534. At the very least, it's some 500 years old, making it the oldest existing piece of taxidermy in the world. 

It was thought to be missing, but in the 18th century the crocodile had reappeared in the church's attic. It was strung up from the ceiling and has remained there ever since. 

There are actually a number of crocodiles on display in European churches, which boggles the mind both for its apparent arbitrariness and the fact that there are no crocodiles in Europe. Elsewhere in Italy, a crocodile hangs from the rafters in the Santuario della Beata Vergine Maria delle Grazie, and another exists in Brno's Town Hall.

Scholars have suggested that perhaps this was what people thought dragons were, and given that dragons appear in biblical tales like that of St. George, a church was a fitting place to display one. Others have offered that there may have actually been crocodiles stalking Europe at some point, and these mounted specimens might have been trophies. Still others suggest that there may have been other animals on display at one point but because taxidermy had not yet been perfected, the reptiles' leathery hides were the only ones to survive.

In any case, there may be an ancient crocodile hanging somewhere nearer to you than you thought. 

Related Tags

Taxidermy Reptiles Churches Sanctuaries Animals World's Oldest Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

Santuario Madonna delle Lacrime Immacolate, Ponte Nossa

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Max Cortesi

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson

  • Molly McBride Jacobson

Published

November 9, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.duepassinelmistero.com/Pontenossa.htm
  • http://mentalfloss.com/article/53029/11-historically-important-works-taxidermy
  • http://goeurope.about.com/od/specialtytravelandtours/fl/crocodile-churches.htm
Crocodile at the Santuario Madonna delle Lacrime Immacolate
Piazza del Santuario, 9
Ponte Nossa
Italy
45.862213, 9.880236
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Santuario di San Patrizio

Colzate, Italy

miles away

The Triumph of Death

Clusone, Italy

miles away

Museo della Basilica di Gandino

Gandino, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Santuario di San Patrizio

Colzate, Italy

miles away

The Triumph of Death

Clusone, Italy

miles away

Museo della Basilica di Gandino

Gandino, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Related Stories and Lists

13 Surprising Places to Find Taxidermy

List

By Roxanne Hoorn

Related Places

  • Mercogliano, Italy

    Montevergine Sanctuary

    During World War II, the Shroud of Turin was secreted to this remote southern Italian complex.

  • The cathedral exterior.

    Genoa, Italy

    Genoa Cathedral

    This cathedral hides a sculpted dog that determines your fate and an unexploded shell from World War II.

  • A maned wolf at Santuário do Caraça.

    Catas Altas, Brazil

    Maned Wolves of Santuário do Caraça

    This neo-Gothic monastery offers a rare chance to witness the unique maned wolf right up close.

  • The main altar in the cave.

    Italy

    The Grotto Church of Saint Michael

    A spiritual sanctuary in a natural cave.

  • Cathedral of St. Demetrius.

    Vladimir, Russia

    Cathedral of Saint Demetrius

    Thousands of biblical and pagan images are carved into this small 12th-century church.

  • Sanctuary of Monserrate

    Bogotá, Colombia

    Monserrate Sanctuary

    Pilgrims each carried a brick to the top of Mount Monserrate to help build this historic sanctuary in Colombia.

  • Ex-voto at Santuario di Montenero.

    Livorno, Italy

    Ex-Votos of Santuario di Montenero

    This Tuscan church contains a gallery of over 700 ex-votos depicting near-death experiences.

  • Bulldog overlooking peak foliage

    Princeton, New Jersey

    Princeton Chapel Bulldog

    The mysterious canine hides atop a drain pipe on the back of the building, some say as a sneaky shoutout to Yale.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.