Mount Pellegrino

The Monte Pellegrino, with the port of Palermo

The Monte Pellegrino ( German: Pilgrim Mountain ) is a mountain on the north coast of Sicily. It is located about 4 kilometers north of the city center of Palermo. The maximum height of 606 meters is Kalkbergs.

In rocks incised drawings from the Paleolithic, which was discovered in the Addaura Caves on Monte Pellegrino, show that here in prehistoric times people lived. In the 3rd century BC Pyrrhus besieged the mountain in the battle against the Carthaginians. From 248 BC to cast him Hamilcar, to Palermo and the surrounding area were conquered 245 BC by the Romans.

Since the 17th century the Monte Pellegrino is an important place of pilgrimage. 1625 was found in a 25 meter deep cave the supposedly intact body of Saint Rosalia. When they brought her body to Palermo, ended immediately a plague epidemic and Rosalia was declared the new patron saint of the city. The cave is situated at an altitude of 458 meters. The entrance to the cave was built out in 1625 a baroque chapel. Inside is a glass shrine with the lying figure Rosalia. The sculptor Gregorio Tedesco created the marble statue, which is wrapped in a precious dress made ​​of gold, in the 17th century.

Goethe described the Monte Pellegrino in his Italian Journey as "the most beautiful promontory in the world." Today, in the summer months, the Parco della Favorita and the pine forests of the mountain popular destination for the people of Palermo. On an observation deck with a statue of Santa Rosalia, there are regular musical and theatrical performances. On the night of 3rd to 4th September, in honor of the patron saint every year instead of a torchlight procession to the mountain.

1996 explained to the area around the Monte Pellegrino Nature Reserve Riserva Naturale Monte Pellegrino to protect the caves with stone-age rock paintings.