The feast of Santa Rosalia: the 'Santuzza' patron saint of the city

The birth of the feast of Santa Rosalia

From 10 to 15 July, there is an air of festivity in Palermo, the time of the celebration of the city's patron saint. However, until 1624, Santa Rosalia was not known at all: the people of Palermo prayed to the four patron saints whose statues can be found in the famous Piazza Quattro Canti, namely St Agata, St Oliva, St Cristina and St Ninfa.

The story goes that a young and noble woman named Rosalia Sinibaldi spent her life as a hermit to escape a marriage wanted by her family. She died in the cave at the top of Monte Pellegrino where the sanctuary dedicated to her stands today. According to legend, Rosalia appeared to a sick woman in 1623 and later to a hunter, at the time when Palermo was hit by the plague of 1624. The Saint's apparitions were an expression of her wishes: she wanted her bones to be found in the grotto of Monte Pellegrino and brought to the city for a procession in her honour.

So, on 15 July 1624, her wish was fulfilled and the miracle took place: suddenly the plague that had been sweeping through the city leading to the decimation of the population disappeared and all the plague victims were cured. From that day on, Rosalia became the patron saint of the city and on 15 July each year u fistinu (the feast, in Sicilian) is celebrated with a long procession to pay homage to the saint.

Although the day dedicated to the saint is 15 July, the celebrations begin a few days earlier and it is a significant event for the people of Palermo. The most important day is the evening of 14 July, the day of the procession in which the statue of the saint is carried on a beautiful float, different every year and symbolising the arrival of the plague in the city. The procession, starting from Palermo Cathedral, crosses the Cassaro, today's Corso Vittorio Emanuele, to Porta Felice and then culminates with beautiful fireworks.

In accordance with tradition, in the historic Piazza dei Quattro Canti, the floral tribute to the 'Santuzza' (the name used by the people of Palermo as she died at the young age of 36) is paid by the mayor of the city, shouting 'Viva Palermo and Santa Rosalia' three times. Afterwards, the procession resumes, followed by the music of the brass band, giving it a festive rhythm. The whole city is filled with lights and the streets are filled with locals, but also with tourists who do not want to miss this festival, symbolising the celebration of life over death. The float is accompanied by music, singing and other performances of various kinds that help to pay homage to the Saint.

15 July is the day when the relics of Saint Rosalie are carried in a silver urn through the main streets of the city. This is followed by the blessing by the archbishop and the mass in honour of the saint.

Today, the festino di Santa Rosalia is not only a religious event to pay homage to the saint, but also a cultural event in which the people of Palermo come together to share this festive moment surrounded by popular and culinary traditions.

Typical dishes eaten during the festivity

During the celebration of the feast of Santa Rosalia, it is customary to eat some of Palermo's traditional dishes. The famous pane e panelle (bread and fritters stuffed with chickpea flour fritters) and sfincione (pizza with onion sauce, anchovies, caciocavallo cheese and breadcrumbs) are a must.

Besides these classics of Palermo cuisine, there are also pasta chi sardi (pasta with sardines), a typical dish from Palermo where the flavours of the sea meet those of the land, babbaluci (snails boiled with garlic and parsley), u purpu (boiled octopus).

And, finally, like any self-respecting feast, u scacciu: calia e simenza -dried chickpea and pumpkin seeds- cannot be missed. These are eaten, often while walking, on the occasion of Sicilian patronal festivals or other equally important events.