The Chariot of Santa Rosalia

Available only on July 14th, for a maximum of 4 guests. Every July 14, Palermo marks the night of the Festino di Santa Rosalia, one of the most spectacular popular celebrations in the Mediterranean. The tradition began after the saint's relics, found on Monte Pellegrino, were credited with ending the plague that struck the city in 1624. Four centuries later, Palermo still fills its streets to honor her. Guided by Marina, a photographer and writer, you will experience the Festino through photography and visual storytelling. You will walk along the Cassaro, the city's ancient main street, following the triumphal chariot and observing how Palermo changes over the evening, through processions, artistic performances, and popular devotion. From the Cathedral to the Foro Italico, along the entire procession route, you will follow the different stages of the Festino, understanding the rites behind it and the deep bond Palermitans hold with Santuzza.

The Festino di Santa Rosalia is a collective story that draws in the entire city. Every year artists, actors, musicians and residents turn the historic center into an open-air stage where the sacred and the profane have coexisted for centuries.You discover the story of Rosalia, the Sicilian noblewoman who withdrew in prayer as a hermit on the mountain that overlooks the city. Marina tells you why her figure still holds a place in the Sicilian imagination and in Palermo's identity. The chariot at the center of it all is rebuilt every year, a new work by a different artist since 1686, so what you photograph has never looked quite like this before and never will again. Around it, theatrical lights, women with roses in their hair, and a wealth of humanity to immerse yourself in and draw inspiration from. On a night when hundreds of thousands of people line a single street, much of the work is knowing where to stand and when, and that is what Marina's attentive and empathetic eye is for.

Marina Mongiovì is a photographer and writer based in Palermo. Her photographic work focuses on street photography. Her images have been exhibited at the Palermo's Centro Internazionale di Fotografia, as part of group exhibitions curated by renowned photojournalist Letizia Battaglia. She has exhibited in Rome as a finalist in an international open call organized by Roma Fotografia, and has held two solo exhibitions in Catania. Photography and writing run alongside each other in her work. In 2022 she published Storie del Castello di Trezza, a photographic retelling of Giovanni Verga, and in 2023 her first collection of short stories, Sciara. Her stories have appeared in several Italian literary magazines.

Comfortable shoes. A camera or smartphone. Light clothing and a bottle of water — July nights in Palermo stay warm. A bag with a zipper closure for peace of mind in crowded areas. **This experience is suitable for photography enthusiasts, beginners, and travelers interested in local culture.