Festino of Saint Rosalia

A festival spanning four centuries

The Festino of Saint Rosalia, affectionately called 'U Fistinu' by the locals, is the beating heart of the identity of Palermo, the capital of the Sicilian Region. The event celebrates the Santuzza, the city's patron saint, who according to tradition delivered Palermo from the terrible plague epidemic of 1624: the discovery of her relics on Monte Pellegrino and their subsequent procession through the city streets marked the end of the contagion. Since that first triumph in 1625, the festival has been held every year without interruption, blending religious devotion, historical memory, and popular spectacle.

The Triumphal Float and the Cassaro

The absolute star of the Festino is the Triumphal Float, an imposing scenographic structure that changes its theme, shape, and size each year. On the evening of July 14th, the float slowly parades along the Cassaro, the city's oldest monumental axis (today's Corso Vittorio Emanuele), starting from the Palazzo dei Normanni and the Cathedral to reach Porta Felice and the Foro Italico, overlooking the sea. Along the route, the procession stops at narrative stages marked by live music, dance, acrobatics, video projections, and theatrical moments. At the Quattro Canti, the famous Baroque crossroads in the heart of the historic center, the collective cry that unites thousands of people rings out: 'Viva Palermo e Santa Rosalia!'.

The rites of July 15th

While July 14th is the night of the spectacle, July 15th is the day of devotion. In the afternoon, the Cathedral hosts solemn liturgical celebrations, followed by the procession of the silver urn, the artistic silver Ark containing the Saint's sacred relics. The religious procession traverses the streets of the historic center with a stop at Piazza Marina, where the Archbishop addresses the city, before returning to the Cathedral amidst blessings and fireworks.

The 2026 edition: the 402nd Festino

The 402nd Festino will be held in Palermo from July 10th to 15th, 2026, with the culmination on the night between July 14th and 15th. The 2026 edition is titled 'From drama comes the rite, from the rite the community' and anticipates the themes of the 2027 European Year of the Normans, reflecting on the city's ability to transform tragedy into a culture of coexistence. The artistic direction is entrusted to Luca Pintacuda, while the new Triumphal Float is designed by architect Mario Cucinella.

A festival for the whole city

For five days, Palermo transforms into a grand open-air stage: concerts, side events, and food stalls featuring traditional specialties (from pane ca' meusa to babbaluci, boiled pears, and mulberries) animate the streets and squares. The Festino attracts hundreds of thousands of faithful, tourists, and curious onlookers every year: in 2025, attendance exceeded 350,000. Admission to all Festino events is completely free, faithful to the spirit of shared celebration that has accompanied the patron saint of Palermo for four centuries.