'Typically Sicilian, this former fishing village has cobbled streets, beautiful beaches and bucketloads of charm.'
Anyone who has seen the oscar-winning 1989 movie Cinema Paradiso will recognise the quaint backstreets of Cefalu. Despite some tourist development, this delightful medieval town is still like one big film set, its ancient centre, dominated by the massive, twin-towered 12th century cathedral, largely untouched by time. The beaches are excellent and the town still has a working fishing harbour, which means the restaurants have no shortage of supplies to create classic Sicilian dishes like swordfish and squid. The fascinating little museum, whose collection was bequeathed to the town by Baron Enrico Piraino di Mandralisca, is certainly worth a visit, if only to see the famous Portrait of an Unknown Man by the famous 15th century artist Antonella da Messina. Not to mention Baron Mandralisca's collection of 20,000 sea shells! If you're feeling energetic, an upwardly-mobile jaunt to the top of La Rocca, the rocky crag which overlooks the town, will reward you with one of the best views in Sicily, across to the skyline of Palermo. You'll also be able to root around the ruins of the Temple of Diana, built between the 9th and 4th centuries BC. Cefalu residents are not generally known for their party spirit, so nightlife in the town is pretty low key. However, there are a few lively bars, including an English-style pub which play rock 'n' roll music! Attractions outside the town include the beautiful Parco Naturale Regionale delle Madonie, the ruins of ancient Tyndaris, which date back to 1500 BC, and Santo Stefano di Camastra, famous for its ceramics.
Life in Cefalu is centred around the Piazza Duomo, a vibrant palm-fringed square that stands in the shadow of the town's turreted cathedral. The square is the ideal spot in which to get an espresso and watch the world go by. The fishermen's quarter is particularly appealing with its quaint assortment of Medieval houses that overhang the beach front. Cefalu's main stretch of beach is considered to be one of the best on the northern coast of the island.
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Cefalu hotels and apartments
Our hotels and apartments in Cefalu include Acacia Resort.
More Sicily holiday destinations
Looking for holidays in Sicily? Our Sicily holiday destinations include Adrano, Agrigento, Alia, Calatabiano, Castelbuono, Cefalu, Floridia, Fontane Bianche, Giardini Naxos, Lentini, Letojanni, Marina D'agro, Milazzo, Motta Camastra, Noto, Palazzolo, Palermo, Santa Venerina, Siracusa, Taormina and Taormina Mare.
Beaches
Cefalu boasts four beaches which are all made up of sand, shingle and rock, except the main Lungomare Beach which has beautiful fine white sand with just a few rocks. Sun loungers, umbrellas and pedalos are available on the seafront.
Eating out
Visitors are spoilt for choice with numerous cafes and restaurants serving traditional Italian cuisine and international dishes. Near the sea shore there are numerous seafood restaurants which boast superb views out to sea. The wide selection of eateries also reflects the wide selection of prices!
Nightlife
Nightlife in Cefalu is low key, although there are a couple of discos and, during summer months, there are a number of organised concerts and shows. However, evenings tend to revolve around the town's relaxed cafe culture making Cefalu the perfect place to unwind and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Why not sit down in a bar overlooking the Mediterranean with a glass of wine and watch the sun go down?
Shopping
Cefalu has a moderate range of places to shop, but includes plenty of tourist shops selling souvenirs and holiday essentials. Further along the coast the city of Palermo boasts excellent shopping facilities and is well worth a day trip.
Local information
Cefalu is home to one of the greatest Norman cathedrals in Sicily. Located in the heart of the Medieval town, it roots date back to the 1100's when the island was occupied by the Normans. It has a series of beautiful mosaics that date back to the 12th century - the earliest of any church on the island. Also, visit the Museo Mandralisca with its impressive collection of Greek and Arab artifacts. Out of town, take the opportunity to visit hauntingly beautiful lava-scapes that surround the slopes of Mount Etna, Europe's largest and most active volcano.
Location
On the northern coast of the island, 75km east of Palermo
Transfer time
2 to 3 hours
Recommended
Luxury
