Mario Cucinella designs bio-car for Palermo's Festino di Santa Rosalia 2026

For the 402nd edition of the Festino di Santa Rosalia in Palermo, architect Mario Cucinella and his firm MCA have designed a 'bio-car' that blends architecture and nature, drawing on Arab-Norman syncretism. The float, a moving garden, will carry the statue of the saint through the city on the night of July 14-15. Cucinella's project is part of a broader revival of author-designed floats after years of mediocre craftsmanship; the last notable one was by Jannis Kounellis in 2007. The 2026 float is produced in collaboration with the University Museum System (SiMuA) and the Palermo Botanical Garden, with artistic direction by Luca Pintacuda and production by Odd Agency and Coopculture. The event also ties into the 2027 European Year of the Normans, marking the millennium of William the Conqueror's birth. Meanwhile, pop star Rosalia (the singer) has deepened her connection to the saint: her song 'Focu ranni' from the album 'Lux' is dedicated to Santa Rosalia, and she posed for a selfie with the 2024-2025 float by sculptor Giacomo Rizzo. Street artist Igor Scalisi Palminteri has created a mural titled 'Estasi' in the Villaggio Santa Rosalia neighborhood, depicting the singer in a devotional pose, further blurring sacred and pop iconography.