VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – From May 8 to 18, the exhibition “Palermo Blooms with Santa Rosalia” will be on display at the Parliament of Malta. This initiative by the City of Palermo is held in collaboration with the Parliament of Malta, under the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Malta and with support from the Italian Cultural Institute in Valletta. After the Malta debut, the exhibition will continue its international tour.
“Hosting the Palermo Blooms with Santa Rosalia exhibition in the heart of the Maltese Parliament is more than just a gesture of cultural hospitality,” said Anglu Farrugia, Speaker of the House of Representatives. “It is a profound act of recognition of a history that belongs to us, a devotion that has transcended centuries and seas. Santa Rosalia is not only the patron saint of Palermo but also a symbol of Mediterranean rebirth, shared faith, and collective resilience. In this spirit, I warmly invite both Maltese and international audiences to visit this extraordinary exhibition, which weaves together art, memory, and identity in a living dialogue between our two sister islands. It is a rare opportunity to breathe in the beauty of a shared heritage that continues to bloom from Palermo to Valletta.”
The exhibition Palermo Blooms with Santa Rosalia is curated by Sandro Follari, Maria Francesca Martinez Tagliavia, Valentina Falletta, and Claudia Giocondo. It is part of the events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the relics of Santa Rosalia in July 1624, patron saint of the city.
“We are honoured that our exhibition is being hosted within such a prestigious institutional venue as the Parliament of Malta,” said Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla. “This is the second stop on an international tour through which we are telling the story of Palermòs rich historical, artistic, and cultural heritage via its most famous tradition: the Festino di Santa Rosalia, held each year on July 14-15 and attracting millions of visitors. The spectacularity of last year’s edition, represented in the photos and videos on display, earned us the bronze medal at BEA WORLD 2024 as Best International Event, under the artistic direction of Marco Balich. We will continue this tour in Beijing, London, and the United States, and into 2026, recounting the cult and story of the ‘Santuzzà, known around the world.”
The exhibition features works by professional photographers and photojournalists captured during the Festino on July 14, 2024. These offer a powerful visual narrative of Palermo and its iconic tradition. The images were selected by a prestigious panel including Roberto Gueli (President of the Order of Journalists of Sicily), Gianfranco Marrone (Professor of Semiotics at the University of Palermo), and Maria Francesca Martinez Tagliavia (Director of the Gallery of Modern Art in Palermo).
“I am honoured to contribute to this exhibition, which is a valued initiative to strengthen Maltàs ties with Italy and Sicily and reinforce the already exemplary bond between our two peoples,” said Italian Ambassador to Malta Fabrizio Romano.
“It is a great joy to host such an artistic project here in Malta, a country where the Festa – the ensemble of liturgical and folkloric celebrations held across the archipelago – has been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO,” said Serena Alessi, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Valletta. “Palermo Blooms with Santa Rosalia tells the story of a region, not just a time of year, and does so through the exceptional talent of photographers. It’s a special artistic event that the Italian Cultural Institute of Malta is proud and pleased to promote.”
The exhibition is organized by the City of Palermo in collaboration with its Department of Culture. It is presented by Civita Sicilia with support from the Western Sicily Port System Authority.
Also on display: a video of the Festino produced by the Albamedia communications agency and a video offering aerial views of Palermo with immersive scenes of some of the city’s most evocative historic sites, produced by Aerial Film Studios.
The exhibition is free to the public and can be visited at the Parliament of Malta from May 8 to 18 during the following hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
– Photo by Andrea Vagni –
(ITALPRESS).
