On the northern coast, 75 kilometers east of Palermo, Cefalù is built on the site of an ancient Sicanian and Greek settlement. Cefalù is one of the jewels of Sicily, the Pearl of Tirreno. A picturesque medieval town grouped around a superb Norman Cathedral, leading down to a beautiful sand beach and sea front. The name Cefalù comes from the Greek Kefa, which means "head which derives from the rock", a large rock cliff that dominates the town, and from its foot extends the historic town centre.
Begun in 1131, the Norman cathedral and the adjoining abbey and cloister were completed some years later. The church was one of the first Sicilian cathedrals built on the Western model, with a long nave and distinct transept.
Near the ruins of the citadel at the top of the mountain are the remnants of the Temple of Diana, probably a Sicanian structure. Its portal and cut stone reflect Greek and Roman construction, and in fact the cult of Hercules practiced here. However, the temple's foundations are actually far more ancient, dating to the ninth century BC.
Several medieval buildings still stand in the city itself. These include the lavatoio (lavandai), a medieval wash house fed by freshwater springs, and the Osteria Magna (Great Guest house). A maze of charming medieval streets make Cefalù a pleasant spot, whether you stay for a morning or an entire day. There are some good restaurants in the town center and near the beach that offer seafood and other local specialties, and a number of pizzerias.

Sicily Villas

Catania
Cefalù
Palermo

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