It is the story of Rosalia Sinibaldi, a noble girl from Palermo born in 1130 and died in 1166. Rosalia had retired to Mount Quisquina, presumably as a nun, to lead the life of a hermit, renouncing the wealth and comforts of the nobility. It is said that later, discovering the life of a hermit, she ran away and took refuge on Mount Pellegrino, where her remains were found. From then on, no one ever knew the end of this noble girl, until, centuries later, in 1624, while Palermo was ravaged by the plague that was decimating the population, the spirit of Rosalia appeared in a dream: first to a plague patient, then to a hunter. Rosalia showed the latter the way to find her skeletal remains, and asked him to carry them in procession through the city. And so it was done: wherever the remains of the Saint passed, the sick were healed and joined the procession, completely freeing the city from the horrible disease in a few days! Since then, the procession has been repeated every year with the aim of continuing the ritual of liberation from evils over the centuries.
that afflict humanity. The Festino has in fact been a fixed appointment for the people of Palermo since 1624. The highlight of the event is the procession on the night of July 14, with the exit of a fabulous float that triumphantly carries the statue of the Saint and her remains along the historic route that goes from the Cathedral of Palermo to the Foro Italico along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, already known as Cassaro at the time when the liberation from the plague occurred. At the head of the procession is the Archbishop of Palermo who, together with the Mayor of the city, opens the procession. Every year a new theme is proposed for the procession which also includes open-air events and allegorical shows that take place all around the float: a show that exudes all the folklore and culture of Palermo, definitely not to be missed by anyone passing through Palermo during those days! The "Santuzza", as she is affectionately called by the people of Palermo, established herself as one of the best-known and most venerated saints in Sicilian Christianity.
"Long live Palermo and Saint Rosalia!"
that afflict humanity. The Festino has in fact been a fixed appointment for the people of Palermo since 1624. The highlight of the event is the procession on the night of July 14, with the exit of a fabulous float that triumphantly carries the statue of the Saint and her remains along the historic route that goes from the Cathedral of Palermo to the Foro Italico along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, already known as Cassaro at the time when the liberation from the plague occurred. At the head of the procession is the Archbishop of Palermo who, together with the Mayor of the city, opens the procession. Every year a new theme is proposed for the procession which also includes open-air events and allegorical shows that take place all around the float: a show that exudes all the folklore and culture of Palermo, definitely not to be missed by anyone passing through Palermo during those days! The "Santuzza", as she is affectionately called by the people of Palermo, established herself as one of the best-known and most venerated saints in Sicilian Christianity.
"Long live Palermo and Saint Rosalia!"