Santa Rosalia is said to have saved Palermo from the plague in 1624 and since then she has been venerated as the city’s Patron Saint. Two feasts are celebrated in her honour. The most important is the Festino, or Big Feast, which runs from July 13th to 15th, in which all the townspeople take part. For this occasion a large boat is built to carry the statue of the Saint across the old city. The procession ends with a spectacular firework display at sea. Santa Rosalia is also celebrated with religious rites on September 3rd and 4th with a traditional pilgrimage to the Sanctuary on Mount Pellegrino, where the relics of the Saint were found.
