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Cefalù is among the most visited places in Sicily, attracting thousands of tourists each day in the summer months despite its small size.
The reality is that I didn’t need to spend any time of our Sicily street excursion in Cefalù initially, in light of the fact that I accepted that I would not appreciate the city among the late spring swarm. In any case, not exclusively did we oversaw to dodge the masses, we additionally found mystery corners where we could get lost and be by ourselves.
One day proved sufficient to inspect this miniature city comprehensively. Indeed, we did not even lodge overnight, as the costs were extremely inflated relative to less tourist-centric areas.
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WHERE TO PARK IN CEFALÙ
If you plan to arrive in Cefalù by vehicle, you should determine where to leave your car in advance, since parking options within the town center are limited aside from some private lots.
What we did instead, is park in the outskirts of the city for free (See details on the map).
From here, you can stroll along the entire Lungomare Giuseppe Giardina seaside promenade to reach the city center. Along the walk, many people will be seen early at the beach to secure a spot, because it’s just that busy during summer. Thankfully, there are alternative beaches than the crowded one in Cefalù. We’ll talk about that later.
Top things to do in Cefalù in one day
While visiting Cefalú is among the top activities to engage in in Sicily,Cefalú is a rather small town, so one day should suffice for a visit. We began exploring the surroundings of Cefalú initially, and eventually ended up in the historic center of the village.
LA ROCCA
If you visit Cefalù, I recommend wearing good footwear because the terrain to reach the best views of the so-called Norman Citadel will be steep and rocky.
From La Rocca, you can gain a panoramic perspective of the whole city, and realize Cefalú is a small fishing village trapped among the Tyrrhenian Sea and a calcareous 270-meter tall rock face.
My recommendation is to go up to La Rocca first thing in the morning upon arriving in Cefalù, especially if you visit Sicily in the summer, as temperatures become very hot by midday.
Though you first must climb the 278 steps carved into La Rocca beneath the sweltering Sicilian sun, you will be rewarded with magnificent perspectives and swiftly understand the construction of the city. It will also serve as an excellent way to burn off all those delectable Pizze and Cannoli.
TEMPLE OF DIANA
Midway up La Rocca is the Temple of Diana, a temple constructed for the worship of the goddess of water and the moon. It is believed that this megalithic monument was built during the ninth century BC, being the only pre-classic era monument of Sicily.
Don’t anticipate an impressive structure. If notices regarding the temple were absent, it may appear to be an abandoned ruins of antiquity. It is regrettable how degraded the condition has become.
NORMAN CASTLE
After another half hour of ascent, we can find the ruins of the Norman Castle. This fortification was built to protect the city from possible attacks. It also offers a 360o view of the surroundings.
From there, we could see the Nuevo Puerto Presidiana and enjoy the turquoise hue changes of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
We also came across the Promontory of Torre Caldura, the lookout tower located on Cape Caldura dating back to the 16th century.
And of course, we admired the Latin cross at the Cathedral of Cefalù, the main monument of the city.
However, what we appreciated most about going up to La Rocca was discovering an alternative to the crowded main beach of Cefalù.
If examining the final image, the color of the bay on the left side is nothing other than umbrellas in the sand. However, ascending to La Rocca, we came across the so-called Arrecife de Giudecca (Giudecca Reef), where we enjoyed the sea almost exclusively by ourselves.
THE FIRE OF CEFALÚ
Moreover, while climbing the mountain to La Rocca, we gained knowledge about recent unfortunate occasions in Cefalù. On the upper left part of the last image, the mounts of Cefalù can be seen. Regrettably, they were burnt in a fire on June 16, 2016, approximately one month before our visit.
It was unfortunate to see all the scorched blackened peaks. However, the worst aspect was not just that restoring this damage would take over a century, but also learning from locals that the fire had been deliberately set by criminal organizations when the town administration withdrew concessions for maintenance services from the private company that had managed this task.
This revelation caused us to realize sadly the mafia continues impacting locals` everyday lives, even in other areas like waste disposal and taxation.
Top attraction in Old town cefalù
Once descending La Rocca, I encourage exploration of the medieval old town known for its cobblestone streets.
The principal artery where most happenings take place is the Corso Ruggero, which denotes the limit of the medieval city. However, do not follow it all the way. Get lost, look for solitary alleys and move to another century, when Cefalù was Greek, Roman, Arab or Norman.
MEDIEVAL LAundry “FIUME CEFALINO”
The entrance to the medieval washing area known as “Fiume Cefalino” is located on Via Vittorio Emanuele. This facility dates back to medieval times, although its exact date of construction remains unknown. It would be remiss to exclude this attraction from a list of things to experience in Cefalù in a single day.
Situated at the mouth of the Cefalino creek, this laundry was carved directly into the volcanic rock. In truth, you will have to descend a stone stairway to arrive at it.
This important site has undergone several renovations throughout history that have helped preserve it, making it one of the most visited places in Cefalù. During the last remodeling in the 19th century, bronze lion heads were added to each of the pipes supplying the lavatory.
The water is funneled to the sea through a gap that opens in the medieval wall still standing in Cefalù, and that leads to the port.
DUOMO DI CEFALÚ
Without question, Duomo di Cefalù is the most significant thing you must see in Cefalù in a single day. Not all fishing towns can have a cathedral, especially from such an early time period. The cathedral of Cefalù (1131) was established even prior to Palermo’s (1184).
The story behind the construction of this cathedral goes back to when the King of Sicily, Ruggero II, faced a sea storm on his journey from Naples to Palermo. Thinking his life was in danger, the King promised that if he arrived safely, he would build a house of worship in honor of his savior wherever he disembarked. Upon landing at Cefalù, the King kept his word and construction soon commenced afterward.
A noteworthy part of the cathedral is the rectangular towers that provide the appearance of a Norman stronghold. Within, the Byzantine mosaic of Christ Pantocrator with Arabic-Norman characteristics stands out, featuring blond hair (Norman) and a thick dark beard (Arabic).
It has received designation as a World Heritage Site from UNESCOsince 2015 as a component of the Arab-Norman route including Palermo, Monreale, and Cefalù. Throughout the summer months, visiting hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
ALTERNATIVE to CEFALù BEACH – GIUDECCA REEF
Taking an ocean bath in the Tyrrhenian Sea is a must-do activity in Cefalù.
We did not want to go to the main beach of Cefalù, and instead, we looked for an access point to the Giudecca Reef after lunch, which we had discovered from La Rocca that morning.
On the map, I marked the back entrance we went down to reach the reef, as it is not simple to locate. We crossed some of the oldest streets we saw in Cefalù. No doubt, this region is the most historic and least altered section of the town. To access the sea you literally must go through the medieval wall highlighted in the movie Cinema Paradiso.
The reef is essentially a volcanic rock terrain that was formed underneath the sea. The remote location helps provide a place of peace and tranquility, and as a bonus, it is closer to the historic center than the beach in Cefalù.
You’ll find yourself alone here, even though it may seem impossible in such a crowded place like Cefalù during summertime. However, privacy isn`t guaranteed as the Norman wall that transformed into houses has a view of this area.
While there is no fine sand where one can lay down, the place cannot be more suitable for diving. Do not forget your goggles!
From this area, one can see the dining establishment Al Faro, where we had our midday meal.
Where to eat in cefalù
Al Faro
We had our midday meal at an establishment called Al Faro on the day we spent in Cefalù . We happened upon it by chance during our search for access to the Giudecca Reef area.
The restaurant has a terrace directly on the cliff that overlooks the Giudecca Reef, on the street with the equivalent name, and is located at the foot of the Cefalù Lighthouse.
In this “Restaurant”, as in most Sicilian restaurants, the typical dish was pasta with seafood or fish. Thankfully for me, there was also a veggie option.
We also enjoyed our first of many half-litre servings of the house white wine.
Duomo Gelatieri
Another gastronomic pleasure that we tried in Cefalú was at the cathedral square. It is a pastry and ice cream shop called Duomo Gelatieri located at the corner of Corso Ruggero street.
Before departing Cefalù, we returned there to purchase a few cannoli which undoubtedly were the finest of the trip. The ricotta cream filling, the crunchy exterior and pistachio pieces were completely delectable.
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accommodation in cefalù
We did not stay in Cefalù since prices skyrocket during summertime with the high demand.
The lodging that met our high standards in regards to quality, affordability, and location is this apartment.
If you are searching for something more reasonably priced, you can explore this lodging.
Saving more is possible by locating some accommodations further from center under €50. Cefalù is small, moving between spots will be rapid.
The admission charge to Monument Valley corresponds with the entrance fee for the whole Navajo Nation, so if you plan on visiting multiple attractions within the Navajo Nation in the same day (for example Antelope Canyon + Monument Valley), be sure to only pay this fee one time.
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How to get to Cefalú
I thoroughly advise allocating no less than one day in Syracuse since it’s one of the best activities to engage in Sicily.
We only spent a day in Cefalù, in order to catch a ferry to Stromboli from Milazzo early the next morning.
If you are heading east at sunset time, I suggest taking a portion of the SS113 alternatively of pursuing the E90 road. This road goes along the coast, simply separated from the sea by the train tracks.
Suddenly a train passed and the scene was perfect to end our day in Cefalù.
