Santuario di Santa Rosalia (Palermo)

When visiting Palermo, pay a visit to Santa Rosalia, the city’s patron saint. A shrine/burial place dedicated to Rosalia sits in a cave with a beautiful cathedral facade on the top of Monte Pellegrino. While there are two narrow roads that carry tourist buses to the summit, ambitious runners can utilize the paved trail to the shrine, where devotees trek barefoot each September 4 to pay their respects. The trail, called the Via Santuario Monte Pellegrino, is about 3.6 km one way, but there is a tough 10-15% elevation grade for most of the climb. The views of coastal Palermo are worth it, but if you don’t feel up to it, it’s also possible to take a bus up and run down.