The beauty of summer is not just for those who go, but also for those who remain and those who take advantage of moments of rest to discover the charm of our regional traditions exploding during the summer in the whole boot. In Sicily last year there was a slight increase in tourism by foreign visitors, according to a survey conducted by Federalberghi, is in fact increased by 11, 9 percent. 2013 is everything still to play, the warmer months are to live and enjoy to discover the pearls of the region, primarily in Palermo, a city rich in evidence of a precious past that has seen the beautiful capital Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and so on, people who have left their mark witnessed by monuments, architecture, museums, and why not, gastronomic traditions.
If you stay in the month of July, scheduled a time as dear to popular tradition, between 10 and 15 July, remember Santa Rosalia, a secular re-enactment that takes place every year and celebrates the religious figure, according to a ‘ ancient legend, in 1624 they defeated the pounding he was claiming countless victims in the city. Since then, Santa Rosalia became the patron saint of Palermo taking the place of those who were at the time of the patron saints of the city such as Santa Cristina Santa Ninfa, Sant’Oliva and Sant’Agata. So everyone in the street to participate in this festival, called in Sicilian dialect “U fistinu for Santuzza,” a popular time between the sacred and the profane that combines fun and for 5 days in a row during hot, very hot summer days. The event reaches its 389 th edition this year and, as in past years, thousands of visitors are expected, among curious locals and tourists who come to share a celebration that is very dear to the people of Sicily, attracted as much by religious significance or by any playful, an event that is never the same, is and always returns in a different guise.
The program is rich and interesting and, for this year is dedicated to all those who make the future, to those who can make a difference and keep up hope, to see with different eyes Palermo, a city which, as well as its inhabitants, must think and look to a better future. The highlight of the day is scheduled for 14 with the triumphal procession along the Cassaro, or Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the Cathedral to the Porta Felice in a blaze of lights and fireworks while, on the 15th, is dedicated to the procession of the relics of Santa, kept in an urn silver, ready to walk the streets of the center, the Cathedral at Piazza Marina, bringing joy and lots of fireworks at nightfall.
Any excuse is good to enjoy the local cuisine Sicilian dishes full of greedy that can be experienced among the many stalls that crowd the path: palates will be tempted with the traditional bread and spleen, and babbaluci, or snails and, to close in sweetness, is biting into the cubbaita, watermelon, prickly pears and almond.
