Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia
Palermo is bounded to the north by Monte Pellegrino, a rock jutting into the Mediterranean which Goethe described as “the most beautiful promontory in the world”. Near the mountain’s summit is the Santuario di Santa Rosalia, one of Palermo’s many patron saints. The mountain park and the sanctuary can be easily visited in a few hours, and make a great escape from the noise and traffic of the city.
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 1 Monte Pellegrina Palermo view over harbor](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/3D-Palermo.jpg)
We were let off the bus at the entrance to the grotto sanctuary of Sta. Rosalia. She was a 12th century noblewoman who eschewed the luxuries of privileged life in order to become a hermit. After finding a suitable cave dwelling, she lived alone dedicated to worshiping the glory of God, and died unknown. Her name wouldn’t become legend until 1624, 450 years after her death, when the plague threatened to wipe out Palermo. She appeared in spirit form to a few villagers, revealed the location of her bones, and suggested that these be paraded about town. Orders were followed, Sta. Rosalia was venerated, and Palermo was spared. She’s been worshiped devoutly ever since.
It’s funny that a woman who had retreated from society, later demanded to be feted about Palermo before she would deign to rescue the townspeople. “More confetti! Yes, worship my bones! Dance for your salvation, peasants, dance for your new saint!”
Her grotto is lovely, and a site of intense religious devotion. During our visit, there were at least two candle-lighting adherents for every camera-clicking tourist. Carved into the cave with her image bathed in blue light at the back, the grotto marries natural beauty to faith. An odd collection of sliver plates adorns one wall, each decorated with a different body part; torsos, ears, legs, hearts, lungs, noses, etc. They’re used to ask the saint for help with specific bodily ailments.
After emerging from the grotto, we set off to explore the rest of the mountain. Climbing up a path called the Sentiero al Semaforo, which was just to the left of the Sanctuary but strangely difficult to find, we emerged at Pellegrino’s summit and enjoyed a marvelous view of the city below us. From this height (606 meters), Palermo looks deceptively tranquil.
We walked slowly down the mountain through a quiet forest area, and arrived at a car park where people were eating lunch and admiring the sea. A large statue of Santa Rosalia was here, arms outstretched as though to protect mariners.
It was a great day outdoors, which only required a few hours of our time. Bus #810 leaves semi-frequently from Piazza Politeama (check the AMAT website for exact times) and will bring you up to the statue in about 30 minutes. Both the sanctuary and the view over Palermo are definitely worth the effort.
Location of the Santuario di Santa Rosalia on our Palermo Map
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 2 Palermo Santuario](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Santario-This-Way.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 3 Santa Rosalia Palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Holy-Palermo.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 4 Santa Rosalia statue](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Candles-Palermo.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 5 Santa Rosalia Madonna palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Holy-Maria-Hole.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 6 Body casts Santa Rosalia palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/I-Can-Walk-Again-Miracle.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 7 Holding cross and skull](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Holy-Rosalia.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 8 Santa Rosalia Palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Palermo-Santa-Rosalia.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 9 Praying For Good Health](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Praying-For-Good-Health.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 10 Sweaty Breasts](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Sweaty-Breasts.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 11 Good For The Eyes](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Good-For-The-Eyes.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 12 Healing Faces](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Healing-Faces.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 13 Good Health Prayer](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Good-Health-Prayer.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 14 Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Sanctuary-of-Santa-Rosalia.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 15 Lonely In Palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Lonely-In-Palermo.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 16 Holy Candle](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Holy-Candle.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 17 Neon Maria](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Neon-Maria.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 18 Head in the Mountain](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Head-in-the-Mountain.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 19 King of the castle](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/King-of-the-castle.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 20 Holy Money](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Holy-Money.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 21 Holy Lamb](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Holy-Lamb.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 22 Dusty Candle](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Dusty-Candle.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 23 Very Strange Kiss](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Very-Strange-Kiss.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 24 Shell Boy](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Shell-Boy.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 25 This Way Up](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/This-Way-Up.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 26 Italian Clover](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Italian-Clover.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 27 Italian BLossom](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Italian-BLossom.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 28 Italian Sheep](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Italian-Sheep.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 29 Technology Palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Technology-Palermo.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 30 Antenna Boy](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Antenna-Boy.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 31 Hifi Antenna Italy](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Hifi-Antenna-Italy.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 32 Palermo Blog](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Palermo-Blog.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 33 Palermo Trees](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Palermo-Trees.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 34 Little Hill Palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Little-Hill-Palermo.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 35 Palermo Sicily Photos](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Palermo-Sicily-Photos.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 36 PanoramaSicily](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/PanoramaSicily.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 37 Looking Down Palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Looking-Down-Palermo.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 38 Color Water Sicily](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Color-Water-Sicily.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 39 Building a Cruis Ship](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Building-a-Cruis-Ship.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 40 Palermo Overview](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Palermo-Overview.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 41 Car Rental Palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Car-Rental-Palermo.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 42 In Love Palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/In-Love-Palermo.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 43 Statue Palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Statue-Palermo.jpg)
![Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia 44 Monte Palermo](https://for91days.com/photos/Palermo/Monte%20Pellegrino/Monte-Palermo.jpg)
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I want to know How Monte Pellegrino got the name PELLEGRINO, not about the Santa Rosalia Catholic Saint. I have written the Italian Consulate and have not received information back from them on the name of the MOUNTAIN, i.e. PELLEGRINO, NOT the Saint! I do not believe in Saints and the mountain’s name is PELLEGRINO, not the saint it pertain to in this webpage, etc. So,who in the entire world, knows hoe Monte Pellegrino, in Palermo, Sicily got its name?Mr. J. Mario Pellegrino…inquiring surname-related ancestor wants to know…