On 15th July 1624, probable relics of this 12th-century saint were discovered in a cave on this site. After the relics were moved through the city, the devastating it plague (Black Death) disappeared, so the inhabitants of Palermo welcomed Saint Rosalie as the patron saint of the city, and a sanctuary was built in her honor.
On 14th July, people in Palermo celebrate the annual Festino, the most important religious event of the year. It is a procession that passes through the main street of Palermo to commemorate a miracle attributed to the saint. In 1787, Goethe visited the place and described it as “one that better suits the humility of a saint than the lavish celebrations celebrated to commemorate the departure from the world.”
