05/07/2026
Keep the sound on for this one. 🔊✨
They say some things have to be felt to be understood. 🕯️✨ Monday in Monreale was one of those moments. Standing among thousands for the 400th anniversary of the Festa del Santissimo Crocifisso felt like stepping into the beating heart of Sicily.
I told Adi it felt like something you only see in movies or on TV—the raw emotion, the barefoot pilgrims, and a devotion that has remained unbroken since 1626. It was so moving to see flowers raining down from the balconies while everyone reached out for one last glimpse, hoping to just touch the statue for a blessing. To witness a tradition turn 400 years old while standing in these ancient streets... I’m still processing the beauty of it all. 🕊️🏛️