Rosalia Sinibaldi: A Life of Devotion and Solitude
Rosalia Sinibaldi lived in Palermo between 1130 and 1170 during the reign of William I the Wicked in the Kingdom of Sicily. According to tradition, she served as a lady-in-waiting to the queen, Margherita.
During this time, there was a strong Christian spirituality in Palermo after the end of Arab rule, and there was a revival of Byzantine and Western monasticism, which was enthusiastically embraced by the Norman kings.
In this context, Rosalia chose to live as a hermit, as a solitary life of prayer and contemplation was considered the highest expression of religious devotion at that time.
There is no certain historical information about the saint’s family. Tradition says she was born into a noble family descended from Charlemagne, with roots going back to King Pippin of Italy.
It is said that when she was around 13-15 years old, her father, obeying the king’s command, asked her to marry Count Baldovino as a reward for saving the king’s life. She refused and expressed her desire to dedicate herself to religious life.
She left her family home, joined the order of Basilian nuns, chose the eremitic life, and lived for about 12 years in a small karst cavity, near Bivona (AG). Once she returned to Palermo took refuge in a cave next to an ancient altar, initially pagan but later dedicated to the Madonna, on Montepellegrino, a mountain considered sacred since time immemorial. Here, Rosalia lived in seclusion for about 8 years until her death.
Towards the end of her life, Rosalia likely chose to be walled up inside the cave, where she passed away on September 4th.
Santa Rosalia of Palermo: The Beloved Protector and Patroness
From the most religious to the least devout, everyone in Palermo loves Santa Rosalia, affectionately called “la Santuzza.” The enormous statue perched atop Mount Pellegrino overlooks the entire city, attracting residents and tourists alike. Every year on July 14th, the city comes to a halt to celebrate the magnificent festivities in honor of the saint.
Legend has it that Santa Rosalia saved Palermo from a terrible plague epidemic. The saint appeared to a hunter in the woods of Mount Pellegrino and told him where to find her remains. He was instructed to bring them to Palermo and process them throughout the city. After the procession, the plague indeed ceased. From that moment on, Santa Rosalia began to be venerated as the protective saint and patroness of Palermo, replacing the four previous patrons depicted in the statues of the Quattro Canti (Sant’Oliva, Santa Ninfa, Sant’Agata, and Santa Cristina).
Festino di Santa Rosalia: A Spectacular Journey from Plague to Celebration
“Il Festino” in honor of the patron saint is celebrated every year on July 14th and precedes the religious celebrations on July 15th (a non-working day for the city). The first celebration took place in 1625 and was relatively short. In the following years, the festivities became more and more splendid, and today the Festino di Santa Rosalia is one of the biggest events in Sicily. Each year, renowned artists, performers, and craftsmen are involved in creating magnificent light effects that illuminate the Cathedral of Palermo. They also organize events, shows, and dances (representing the city’s final days of the plague) that bring the entire historic center to life. Of course, a highlight is the creation of the carriage on which Santa Rosalia is placed and carried in procession throughout the historic center. Each year, a different theme is developed, but the underlying story of the miracle of victory over the plague remains.
On the night of July 14th, the majestic carriage begins its journey from the Norman Palace and stops at the Cathedral. It is then transported along the Cassaro (the oldest avenue in the city, built by the Phoenicians), via Vittorio Emanuele, and finally stops at the beautiful Piazza Vigliena (or the “Quattro Canti,” the four corners of the square wonderfully decorated). There, the Mayor pays tribute to the saint by placing a bouquet of flowers at the statue’s feet. Then the procession passes through Porta Felice until it reaches the sea—a journey from death (the plague) to life, represented by the lights of magnificent fireworks bidding farewell to the saint. The pyrotechnic spectacle on the seashore concludes the solemn celebrations.
The Festino is truly an unmissable event. Of course, the festival is accompanied by a series of traditions, especially culinary ones. During the celebrations, people enjoy traditional Palermo dishes, such as pasta with sardines, “babbaluci” (boiled snails with garlic and parsley), “sfincione” (typical local pizza), “purpu” (boiled octopus), “calìa e simienza” or “scacciu” (a mix of chickpeas and pumpkin seeds), “pullanca” (boiled corn on the cob), and watermelon to refresh. Another typical ritual of this day is families gathering at the Foro Italico, the promenade in Palermo, from the early morning hours, with prepared foods such as lasagna, baked pasta, and more, securing the best spots to watch the spectacular fireworks.
Conclusion
If you do not have plans feel free to join us to our exclusive venue at Kalhesa, right in front of Foro Italico, where the parade will end! Party and enjoy the fireworks with us!
