Bensonhurst Honors Santa Rosalia with New Statue from Palermo

Santa Rosalia, ora pro nobis

This year’s Feast of Santa Rosalia on 18th Avenue in Bensonhurst carried special meaning with the unveiling of a newly commissioned statue of la Santuzza, Palermo’s beloved patroness—crafted in her native city and brought to Brooklyn for the first time.

For the 51st year, the neighborhood filled with music, games, rides, and the aromas of Sicilian street food—arancini, stigghiola, sfincione, and cannoli—shared among families and friends.

More than a festival, the event remains a living tradition, where faith and community converge to honor Santa Rosalia while celebrating the cultural heritage of Sicilian-Americans in New York. Evviva Santa Rosalia!

Photos by Andrew Giordano