Places to see in ( Cefalu - Italy )
Places to see in ( Cefalu - Italy )
Cefalù is a coastal city in northern Sicily, Italy. It’s known for its Norman cathedral, a 12th-century fortress-like structure with elaborate Byzantine mosaics and soaring twin towers. Nearby, the Mandralisca Museum is home to archaeological exhibits and a picture gallery with a portrait by Antonello da Messina. The beaches of Mazzaforno and Settefrati lie to the west.
Beautiful Cefalù offers a rare combination of tourist attractions: one of Sicliy's finest beaches side-by-side with one of its greatest Arab-Norman architectural masterpieces. The squares, streets and churches of this medieval town are so postcard-pretty that it's no wonder director Giuseppe Tornatore chose to set parts of his much-loved film Cinema Paradiso here.
Cefalù is notable for beautiful sunsets, unpretentious charm, and a very appealing blend of ingredients for an Italian seaside holiday. Sandy beaches, a picturesque historic town on a rocky headland, some high culture in the shape of a fine Norman cathedral, decent transport links, Sicilian food and sunshine all add up to make the town one of Italy's most attractive seaside destinations.
Unlike the modern beach resorts and developed fishing villages which dot Italy's coast, Cefalù has some grandeur in its past - it was important enough that one of Sicily's Norman rulers, Roger II, would build a glorious cathedral here. While its later history was less distinguished, there are some substantial and elegant buildings in the town, as well as reminders of Sicily's varied influences, not just Norman and Byzantine, but also Arab, Spanish and finally Italian. Nowadays tourism is a big and profitable industry here, and the modern town spreads out along the coast from the centro storico (historic centre).
One of Cefalù's prime magnets for tourists is the sandy beach stretching alongside the town. It is very inviting, though visitors should be prepared to find the sands busy in the peak summer months of July and August, and partially occupied by fee-charging beach establishments.
Set in the medieval district, Cefalù's other great tourist attraction is the town's Duomo, a handsome and imposing two-towered Norman cathedral. Begun in 1131, this mighty church dominates the rooftops of the centro storico. The building's interior is decorated with lovely mosaics created by twelfth-century Byzantine artists: a large Christ Pantocrator on a gold background dominating the apse, above the Madonna, archangels and Apostles. These gleaming mosaics are one of Sicily's greatest sights; if you want more, take a trip to Monreale, outside Palermo. Alongside the church is its restored twelfth-century cloister (admission fee), which is an atmospheric space lined with double columns topped by curious capitals depicting an odd range of scenes, from Noah's ark to strange contortionists.
Towering above the Duomo and the town centre is the massive crag called the Rocca. It's a steep ascent to the top of the hill (take a bottle of water and don't attempt the climb in very hot weather) but it's well worth the effort. Near the top you'll reach the evocative ruins of the so-called 'Tempio di Diana' (temple of Diana), an ancient megalithic stone structure which was given a modernisation in the 5th-century BC in the classical Greek style. Around the summit of the Rocca are superb views and various bits of old fortifications, including a stretch of (reconstructed) battlements.
Back in town visitors can admire the picturesque harbour, alleys and medieval buildings. A Saracen wash-house, the Lavatoio, is another sight worth seeing, as is the medieval Osterio Magno, the remaining part of a large 13th-century palace. A rocky path winds along the shore below the city's seafacing walls, and it is quite an adventure to clamber along and explore.
An important stop on any cultural itinerary is Cefalù's town museum, the Museo Mandralisca. The collection is neither huge nor demanding, but it includes several gems, including a portrait by Antonello da Messina and a striking vase from the fourth century BC decorated with a fishmonger chopping a tuna fish; a sight you may well see today in Sicily's fish markets. The museum's latest opening hours and admission fee are listed on the official website
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