In Rosalia's footsteps: from one coast to the other

PALERMO

You can’t say you really know Palermo if you don’t attend the Feast of Santa Rosalia at least once. Which is not just a procession following the triumphal “Chariot”, it is not a spectacle for hundreds of thousands of people, it is not immersion in tradition, it is not forgotten street food. It is all this and much more: in Palermo the Festino – which this year will be special because it is the 400th edition – is prepared for months, in the houses there is discussion about the beauty of the Chariot or the statue, about the narrators and the music, about the spectacularity of the fireworks that flood the sea, and which can even be witnessed from the boats. The patron saint is still very venerated and alongside the day of July 14, you can follow the religious program with the processions of the confraternities on the 15th. The story is well known: Rosalia, a girl from a noble family, flees the Norman court and begins her life as a hermit first in a cave in Santo Stefano di Quisquina, then on Montepellegrino.
400 years passed and the plague broke out in Palermo in 1624. The city is on its knees, Rosalia appears in a dream first to a plague victim and then to a hunter: she indicates where to find the
His bones, carried in procession, free the city from the epidemic.

PALERMO

Palermo is already colorful with stands where you can taste typical foods – babbaluci (boiled snails), sfincione (tasty pizza), boiled octopus, calia and simenza (dried fruit), pollanca (boiled corn on the cob), the first approach will already be an experience outside
from the municipality.

PALERMO

It starts from the district of Palermo, of the ancient Olivella where tradition has it that it was the home of the Sinibaldi, Rosalia’s family. We are in the heart of Palermo, on the edge of the famous four districts into which the city is divided. You will visit the most important monuments and museums.

MONTEPELLEGRINO

Excursion to Montepellegrino, the place where, according to tradition, the bones of the Saint were found and where today is the sanctuary venerated by the people of Palermo, which on the night between 3 and 4 September is the arrival point of the famous
“acchianata”, the devotional ascent that is (often) done barefoot to ask for a grace from the Santuzza. The route is already a spectacle because the city is gradually becoming smaller and, at the same time, wider, the view goes from the hills to the sea. The Sanctuary in the cave is very touching: the golden statue is dressed in necklaces, bracelets, votive offerings and many letters from the devotees. For trekking enthusiasts, it is also possible on request
follow a nature trail. Descend on the other side of Montepellegrino reaching Mondello, the beautiful beach of Palermo, with its villas, an example of art nouveau.

MONREALE

Visit to the town of Monreale, with the Norman cathedral, a unique treasure trove of mosaics with the extraordinary Christ Pantocrator. Monreale also has a link with the Santuzza: according to tradition, before going to Montepellegrino,
Rosalia stopped to rest, making a miraculous spring of fresh water. It descends from Monreale observing the Conca d’oro and you find yourself immersed in the Festino.
Accompanied by an insider guide, you can follow the procession and enjoy the fireworks from one of the many terraces overlooking the sea.

Cefalù

We leave for Cefalù, to visit the Norman cathedral and the cloister which are part, like Monreale, of the Unesco route. Then you can get lost in the many alleys that climb the slopes of the Rocca. There will also be a dip in the blue waters, a granita or a nice ice cream cone.

St. Stephen of Quisquina

Departure for Santo Stefano di Quisquina, a place intensely linked to Santa Rosalia since legend has it that she spent 12 years in the hermitage: a barely accessible cave, of great charm, as well as of natural beauty. Yes
it will then reach the village with the Mother Church with its hidden treasures and a beautiful fountain nearby. Not far away, a unique place in the world: the Andromeda Theatre,
Built by a visionary shepherd who was looking for a place between the sky and the sea, a stone theater that traces the points of the constellation of Andromeda on the earth.

Bivona

You will then reach Bivona, another town in the province of Agrigento, famous for its excellent peaches. Here, too, Rosalia lived as a child. You will visit the remains of the castle
of the ancient mother church with a Gothic portal.

Agrigento

Departure for Agrigento where a good part of the day will be dedicated to visiting the Valley of the Temples, a unique heritage site in the world, accompanied by a specialized guide who will tell the history of the Greek temples, and will introduce you to the secret paths of the archaeological park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The itinerary will end at the Kolymbetra Garden, an ancient aqueduct that has fallen into ruin, transformed into an Eden of centuries-old olive trees and citrus fruits scented with orange blossom.