A day to discover Cefalu – The tourist spots
Put one of the locations of province of Palermo most visited by foreign tourists. Put the chance to reach it at the cost of 5 eur and an hour's drive from Palermo, thank Trenitalia.
The outcome can only be granted: and will the Cefalù!
Luckily, there is a good supply of regional trains between Palermo and Messina (about one hour), so I opted for the train-Palermo Cefalu with arrival at 8:51, back in the Sicilian capital to the 20.
The beautiful town is about 70 km east of Palermo and if, as in my case, visibility permits, from the top of its Rock you can see a panorama that sweeps from Palermo (through the Madonie) up to Capo d'Orlando, in the province of Messina!
Looking out to sea, then, I could see Alicudi, one of many volcanic islands of the Aeolian group.
The city's name derives from the greek “Kefaloidion“, or “head”, because of the impressive promontory overlooking the city. And it is on its top, on “Rock“, (built after the fall of the Roman Empire, protection against the assaults of the Saracens) I decided to climb, after he got off the train.
The route is quite challenging and, to avoid turning him into a “via crucis”, walking with the sun beating down, I thought to start climbing not later than 9 in the morning. Whereas, between stops for the usual photos, rest, and exploration of the ruins, spend at least 3 hours on top of the Rock, my ringrazierete. 🙂
After disembarking from the Rock, verso le 12:30, It only has to explore the beautiful downtown, cathedral In the first place, built by the Norman King Ruggiero II in the second half of the '200.
Entrance to the Cathedral of Cefalu… Mica male, not? 🙂
The exterior is beautiful. The entrance, in my humble opinion, It is not at the level of Palatine Chapel in Palermo, or the Cathedral of Monreale. The aisles are pretty bare, but the “Christ Pantocratore” This apse… It is breathtaking!
We could talk about the Bastion Marchiafava, from which to enjoy a beautiful landscape in, of Medieval wash, used for centuries by the washerwomen of Cefalu, or Porta Pescara, but that you can see for yourself, the itinerary that will show you shortly.
I Prefer, rather, talk about some sweets with pistachio and almond I purchased in “Bar Duomo”, precisely at the intersection between Corso Ruggiero and the square where the Duomo. They cost 80 cents each and, together with cannoli, Sicilian pastries are a must.
Cakes with pistachios of Bar Duomo. The shape is unsatisfactory, but…
The photos of my visit to Cefalu are, Usual, in my gallery, A this address.
We come to’itinerary, in textual form, which collects all the sights I visited Cefalu (ordered leaving the central station, to optimize the timing):
- Arrival at the station of the Cefalu 8:51
- Rocca Cefalu (enthroned on Cefalu, and its top is placed in 240 meters)
- The barracks (There you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view is from Capo d'Orlando to Palermo - it's inventories of some buildings dating back to the sixteenth century., with related fortifications that protected the fortress)
- Temple of Diana and the Castle (On top of the rock are the remains of the castle, the city walls, and of two wells for the collection of water. Shortly close, is the Temple of Diana, building "megalithic" with an attached tank prehistoric, and dating back to the ninth century. a.C, and testifies that here there was a settlement 3000 years ago)
- Great Osterio (Historic fortified palace Norman, built in the twelfth century, belonging to the noble family Ventimiglia. Tradition has it that it was the residence of Roger II of Hauteville)
- Chiesa del Purgatorio (S.Stefano) (It is located in an open space overlooking Corso Ruggiero, and from the second half of the '600)
- Corso Ruggero (One of the main city arteries)
- Cathedral of Cefalu (h8:30-18. Consecrated in 1267 and in Arab-Norman style, It is said to have been built at the behest of Roger II, as a votive offering to be survived a storm. Inside, apse, It is a mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, and other beautiful mosaics on the vaults. There is an adjoining cloister canonical, fine example of Norman architecture, visitable cost of 3eur)
- Bastion Marchiafava (Piazza Francesco Crispi) (Monumental work of the town walls of Cefalu, restored in the eighties. A unique place of contemporary Cefalu; a place dedicated to the contemplation of the infinite beauty of the sea, from the sky)
- Porta Pescara (o Marina) (last remaining gate, among those allowed access to the city)
- Via Vittorio Emanuele (Medieval wash) (Which, until a few decades ago, the women of the country were still rinsing clothes. To place, It is accessed by a staircase called “a lumachella”, going down to a space partially covered by a low ceiling. The water coming out of the mouths present in three walls, It contributes with its noise to give this room a unique connotation. at last, flowing water in the tanks of Wash leaves, growing from a small cave and reaches the sea)
- Beach Caldura (Via Cavallaro, 16) (Famous beach just outside the center, 2km walk from the medieval wash)
- Resume the regional train to Palermo in the evening
MAP GOOGLE ON THIS TOUR: link
Before leaving, I had a little’ difficulty in locating exactly some places (In. Medieval wash and Porta Marina), because of the paucity of information on the web, so I hope that my Google Map will both help!