Today, we’ll take a look at Cefalù, one of the most popular places in Sicily to visit. What can you find there? What is Cefalù known for? What makes it such a desirable spot for literally millions of tourists every year? Let’s take a look.
Cefalù
Introduction
Cefalù is a relatively small town in Sicily, in the area of Palermo, about 43 miles away from the actual city of Palermo. You can get here from said Palermo by train (about 45 minutes) or car (about an hour). The town occupies merely 65 km2 and has less than 15,000 local residents. For additional information, you can check out the official site of Cefalù.
Thanks to the size, exploring Cefalù is a pleasant stroll through the lovely narrow streets of the town. The only obstacle for those, let’s say, with mobility issues, might be the rock towering over Cefalù. Most other places are easily accessible.
Cefalù Cathedral
Duomo di Cefalù
The cathedral is the main landmark of Cefalù. Works on the temple began in 1131 and lasted for over a century – it was consecrated in 1267. It represents the Normal influence on Cefalù, as Normans were in control of the area at the time of the initial plans for the cathedral. There’s also a large cathedral square in front, formerly a cemetery.
The cathedral itself almost looks like a defensive castle from afar, with two powerful towers on the sides. We’d heavily encourage you to also enter the cathedral to see the interior decorated with beautiful mosaics of Christ Pantokrator and Virgin Mary.
La Rocca di Cefalù
‘The rock’ in Cefalù
Speaking of landmarks, it sure is difficult to skip out on this one. The massive rock overshadowing the entire town of Cefalù measures about 270 metres in height. There are quite a few hiking trails around the rock and it’s a great viewpoint once you climb it. To enter, you have to pay a €5 fee (or €2.50 for children 6-14 and seniors over 65). There’s also a timetable for when the path to the rock opens:
- 8am – 8pm from April to October
- 9am to 4pm from November to March
Make sure to bring water with you, it’s quite a bit of a hike. It can take you 2-3 hours to cover all the trails.
Castello di Cefalù
Cefalù Castle
Though the ruins themselves may not be all that impressive, the view you get from the castle is beautiful. The castle was built in 1063 by the Normans though, likely, it was first damaged heavily in the 13th century, then rebuilt, then abandoned after a few centuries of functioning. Getting to the top can take up to two hours.
Osterio Magno
Cefalù Palace
This is a palace built in the 12th century. According to sources, it was the home of Roger II, King of Sicily between 1095 and 1154 and, later, the Ventimiglia family. The palace was built on the site of ancient Hellenistic buildings.
The building is located in the centre of Cefalù, at Via G. Amendola, 9.
Cefalù beach and Porta Pescara
Spiaggia di Cefalù
If you fancy beach holidays more or you just want to see a lovely place, then the beach in Cefalù is a great spot to visit. The only issue with this beautiful site is that it attracts crowds like no other. The beach is predominantly sandy with a few rocky spots. It’s suitable for children.
The wall of townhouses right on the beach is also a wonderful addition, and a sight you may recognise from postcards of Cefalù. It’s a perfect spot to visit during a sunset.
If you would like more beaches in the region, check out our list of the best beaches in Sicily!
Tempio di Diana
The temple in Cefalù
For a few euros you can visit this interesting attraction located on the Rocca di Cefalù. This megalithic structure dating back to the ninth century BC served as a temple to the (largely undefined) gods. It’s certainly a spot to see for the history nerds among you, though if you’re not too into ancient dilapidated monuments, you can skip on this one.
Museo Mandralisca
Museum in Cefalù
This cosy museum houses, firstly, art collections and, secondly, archaeological exhibits. Museo Mandralisca takes its name from the Mandralisca family and its collections. Entry to the museum costs €6, with an option for a reduced ticket costing €4 for children up to the age of 15 and €2 for children between 6 and 10.
Lavatoio Medievale Fiume Cefalino
Medieval wash house in Cefalù
Yes, you can totally visit a laundry in Cefalù and call it tourism. The wash house dates back to the medieval times, allowing us to imagine what life was like here centuries ago. It’s built atop the River Cefalino (according to legends, a river formed by the tears of a nymph mourning her lover). It’s also a very small time sink to visit the wash house, so you can just hop on by and soak in the vibes. It’s completely free, so you’ve no real excuse not to!
It’s located on the Via Vittorio Emanuele.
Chiesa di Santo Stefano
The church in Cefalù
Another church, this time dedicated to St Stephen (just like the one in Venice). It’s a baroque church in the centre of Cefalù which you can visit for free. It’s located at Piazza G Battista Spinola 7, close to other attractions in the centre, including the Cathedral.
Teatro Pollina
An attraction in the Cefalù area
Teatro Pollina is located close to Cefalù, at Viale Alfredo Musotto 21 in Pollina. It is about 13 miles by car from the centre of Cefalù. This place is also known as Teatro Pietra Rosa. Surprisingly enough, it wasn’t built by Romans or Greek – but by Italians, in 1979, under the tower of the Ventimiglia Castle.
The theatre seats more than 1,500 people and you can enjoy spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and Sicily as a whole from it. It’s one of the best viewpoints in Sicily.
What to eat in Cefalù?
Food in Cefalù
Lastly, we’ll include a great restaurant for you to visit in Cefalù. Though Cefalù has many great options (and many great tourist traps), we especially loved the TINCHITE’ Taverna & Putia on Via XXV Novembre, 37.
See what’s a must-try in Sicily!
Parking in Cefalù
Available car parks
If you’re travelling to Cefalù by car, then you have a couple car parks in the centre – though not the literal centre, because you can’t drive in there. Thankfully, the available car parks are all fairly close to the centre. We’d say try Cortile Belvedere 14 (€1 per hour, nr 10 on our map) or the Parcheggio Central Park. There is also a (much) pricier car park next to the beach.
Map of attractions in Cefalù
What to see in Cefalù?
1) Cefalù Cathedral
2) Tempio di Diana
3) Cefalù Castle
4) Rocca di Cefalù
5) Entrance to the Rocca di Cefalù
6) Cefalù train station
7) Cefalù beach
8) Medieval laundries of Cefalù
9) Chiesa di Santo Stefano
10) Car park
1 day itinerary for Cefalù
What to see in Cefalù in 1 day?
If you only have one day to spend in Cefalù, you can still see most of the best attractions if you hurry. We’d go like this: climb the Rocca di Cefalù first, admire the viewpoint for a moment, but not too long. Climb down, visit the Cathedral, hop to the wash house on the way, and stroll through the streets of Cefalù for the few remaining moments, adding as many sites as time allows.
We’d say that, though the rock is quite time-consuming to traverse, it’s an absolute pearl of Cefalù. If you’re REALLY not into hiking, though, then you can always replace that with the beach or with a few more attractions.
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