Santuario di Santa Rosalia, Palermo

Santuario di Santa Rosalia, Palermo tickets: which one to buy

The Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia stands high on Monte Pellegrino, the mountain overlooking Palermo, about fourteen kilometres by road from the city centre, and entry is free. It is the most important religious site in Palermo, dedicated to the city's patron saint, whose cave is enclosed in the church. The road up is winding, and bus 812 runs from the city centre; some visitors walk up the old pilgrims' path, the Scala Vecchia, a steep climb of about an hour and a half.

The views over Palermo, the Conca d'Oro plain and the sea are spectacular. Tours of Palermo sometimes include Monte Pellegrino, and it can be combined with Mondello beach below the mountain. The sanctuary is busy with pilgrims, particularly at weekends. Modest dress is required. The bus from Politeama in the centre runs regularly and stops beside the sanctuary.

Visiting Santuario di Santa Rosalia, Palermo: what to see

Rosalia was a noblewoman of the twelfth century who, according to tradition, left court life to live as a hermit in a cave on Monte Pellegrino, where she died. In 1624, during a plague epidemic, her remains were discovered in the cave, following a vision, and when they were carried in procession through Palermo, the plague ended; she became the city's patron saint. A church was built in front of the cave, with a baroque facade and an adjoining convent. Inside, the natural cave is the church itself, with water dripping from the rock collected in channels, and a gilded statue of the saint reclining, dressed in a golden robe, given by King Charles III. The cave walls are covered with ex-votos and offerings.

Rosalia's relics are kept in a silver urn in Palermo Cathedral. A statue of the saint stands on a rocky outcrop above the sanctuary. The convent building beside the church houses a small museum of votive offerings and religious objects. Water from the cave is considered holy, and pilgrims collect it in bottles. The statue of the saint in the cave is enclosed by a gilded grille. Plaques around the cave record miracles and thanks for favours received. The facade was rebuilt in the seventeenth century after the discovery of the relics. From the terrace in front of the sanctuary, Palermo stretches along the bay. The pilgrims' path passes old stone shelters and viewpoints.

Santuario di Santa Rosalia, Palermo opening hours and the best time to go

The sanctuary is open daily. Weekends and holidays bring many Palermitans, and weekday mornings are the quietest time. The great festival of Santa Rosalia, the Festino, is held on 14 and 15 July, with a huge procession through Palermo and fireworks. On the night of 3 to 4 September, thousands of pilgrims walk up the mountain to the sanctuary for the Acchianata, the traditional climb. Summer is hot, so avoid walking up in the middle of the day. Allow about forty minutes for the sanctuary, and more for the walk or a visit to Mondello. Mondello's beach, with its Art Nouveau bathing pavilion, is a short drive down the other side of the mountain.