Santa Rosalia, the patroness of Palermo, presides over the piazza in front of the city’s cathedral. Rosalia lived during the 12th century. She was a hermit who swore off her noble upbringing and committed herself to her Christian faith. In July, we at Experience Sicily are hosting a 4-day Palermo experience from the 12-15, during…
Tag: il Festino
Celebrating La Santuzza, Santa Rosalia, In Palermo
Viva Santa Rosalia! Viva Palermo! Annually on July 15, devotees of Santa Rosalia, the patroness of Palermo, solemnly process her sacred relics through the city. The ritual is held in commemoration of the miracle that she performed in 1624 and 1625 when Sicily’s capital was under siege from a plague that mortally cursed more than…
There’s More To Sicily’s Santa Rosalia Than You Might Think
For many years I’ve worn on my wrist a bracelet of red roses with a charm of Santa Rosalia. I purchased the first one years ago when I visited the sanctuary for La Santuzza on the top of Mount Pellegrino. I’ve replaced it a couple of times with the same €2 souvenir purchased at the…
If We Need Santa Rosalia, It Is Now
During the late spring and summer of 1624, Palermo was under siege from a plague that cursed more than 10,000 inhabitants. Things were looking pretty bleak until in early July, when a lost hunter had a vision: Santa Rosalia appeared to him and promised to help him and the city of Palermo once he followed…
Rosalia’s Silver Urn
July 15 in Palermo is a day of masses, prayers, and concerts at the Cathedral in honor of Santa Rosalia. At 7PM, down il Cassaro, the Archbishop and Mayor of Palermo will lead a solemn procession featuring the silver urn containing the sacred relics of La Santuzza. With the intention to reenact the purification of…
Listen for The Chants During Il Festino
“Il festivo,” which takes place in Palermo on the evening of July 14 in honor of Santa Rosalia, is a big street party that unifies the city’s citizens through a procession that symbolically purifies the metropolis from the evils that have long afflicted it. The events of the party are a mix of folklore, religion,…
Babbaluce are from the Land
The snails used to make Babbaluce, the traditional food for Il Festino in Palermo, are actually land snails. During this time of year you can see them all over Sicily on fences, logs, rocks, and more. Once collected (by hand!) and cleaned, they are steamed and tossed with garlic, olive oil, salt, and fresh Italian…
A Solemn Procession for the City
On July 15, after a day of masses, prayers, and concerts at the Cathedral, at 7 PM from the Cathedral on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the Archbishop and Mayor of Palermo will lead a solemn procession featuring the silver urn containing the sacred relics of Santa Rosalia. With the intention to reenact the purification of…
Thanks to a Lost Hunter
During the late spring and summer of 1624, Palermo was under siege from a plague that cursed more than 10,000 inhabitants. Things were looking pretty bleak until in early July, when a lost hunter had a vision (as illustrated by this image, located at the saint’s sanctuary on Mount Pellegrino): Santa Rosalia appeared to him…
Santa Rosalia Purifies the Evils
“Il festivo,” which takes place on the evening of July 14, is a big street party that unifies Palermo’s citizens through a procession that symbolically purifies the city from the evils that have long afflicted it. For this annual celebration, each year Palermo commissions a new statue to represent its patron saint, Santa Rosalia. Like…