Palermo - Monte Pellegrino

The Monte Pellegrino, described by Goethe as "the most beautiful foothills in the world", rises to a height of 609m/2,000ft from the plain lying close to the sea north of Palermo.

History

Finds made by archaeologists in the Addaura Cave show that man has lived here for thousands of years. In ancient times the mountain was known as Heirkte; in 278-277 B.C. Pyrrhos captured it from the Carthaginians, in 248 Hamilcar took possession of it and resisted Roman attacks on it for three years. In the 17th century it was linked with the name of St Rosalia and became one of the main places of pilgrimage in Sicily, and so became known as Monte Pellegrion (Pilgrims' Mountain). Legend links it with the uprising of the barons, led by Matteo Bonello, against King William I and his Grand Admiral Maio of Bari, when the king was taken prisoner and Maio murdered. Matteo Bonello then set up residence in the castle at Cáccamo. Legend has it that after this uprising, in which her father Count Sinibaldo della Quisquina also took part, the young noblewoman Rosalia left the royal court and became a recluse in a cave on the mountainside, where she died on fourth September 1166 after leading a saintly existence. On 15th July 1625 she appeared before two hermits and directed them to the cave where she had lived. There they found her body and a stone with her name on it. When her mortal remains were taken to Palermo an epidemic which had been raging there suddenly ceased; since then she has been the city's patron saint. She is remembered particularly on 13th-15th July, when the people celebrate the finding of her bones, and on fourth September, the anniversary of her death.