U Festinello

Among the narrow alleys of Via Panneria and Piazza Monte di Pietà, in the ancient heart of Palermo, the echo of a miracle still resonates. Here in 1624 lived Vincenzo Bonelli: grief-stricken by the plague, he climbed Mount Pellegrino to end his life. Saint Rosalia appeared to him, entrusting her relics to save the city. Where her first votive shrine stood, a timeless devotion endures. For over a century, alongside Palermo's official Festino, this neighborhood has celebrated its intimate 'Festinello'—a visceral experience blending pure devotion with the warmth of 'schiticchielli' (traditional street banquets). Today, only about twenty people keep this tradition alive. This documentary tells the story of their poetic resistance as guardians of an invaluable cultural heritage. It is a vibrant hymn to life, memory, and community: 'Viva Palermo and Santa Rosalia!'