Sightseeing in Cefalu - what to see. Complete travel guide

In the fabulous island of Sicily, tourists can visit an interesting resort – the city of Cefalu. This is a truly enchanting region that has retained its antique look. Many tourists enjoy visiting this resort every year thanks to sandy beaches and clean water. Majestic rocks near in the vicinity of the city complete an idyllic view of the fishing village. Cefalu is most popular with the youth and families with children. That being said, every vacationer can easily find a suitable activity to fit one’s taste here.

The nearby rock has a shape reminiscent of a head, and this fact admittedly gave the city its name. Ancient Greeks called it Kephale or “head”, and that name slowly changed to Cefalu. However, some scientists think that the city got its name after Phoenician world Cephas meaning “rock”. Archaeologists proved that there was a settlement called Kefaloídion on the rock in the 4th century BC. Besides that, archaeological excavations showed that people already lived in this region three hundred years before the ancient Greeks. In 254 BC, Romans invaded Cefalu. They gave another name to the city – Cephaloedium.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, this territory became a part of the Byzantine Empire. This was the period when the city started expanding its territory. It was moved closer to the sea and became the residence of the Bishop of Greece at some point. Arabs conquered the coastal territory in 858. After that, the city was added to the Emirate of Palermo. Cefalu changed its name to Gafludi during that period. Arabs were not the last rulers in this region because Normans and their king Roger II captured the city in the 11th century. This is when the settlement got its current name. Italians set up their authority in Cefalu only in 1861. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Nowadays, this is a fishing village that is famous for its beautiful and clean beaches with soft sand. The majority of recreational areas are located twelve kilometers from Cefalu. There is also a city beach that is very long – its length is one and a half kilometers. This is the most popular area to swim and sunbathe among both tourists and residents of the city.

The beach is located close to the waterfront. The latter got its name after Giuseppe Giardina. The beach is free to enter. Everyone is welcome to come here to swim and sunbathe. However, some sections of the beach are paid. They have such beach gear as lounge chairs and umbrellas, as well as better infrastructure such as beach bars. This beach has one drawback – it is almost always crowded. That being said, this is an ideal choice for tourists with children because the sea is shallow near this part of the coast.

What else can tourists see in Cefalu? Without a doubt, it is worth visiting the symbol of the city, the famous head-shaped rock that rises above residential buildings almost for 300 meters. The rock has a name – La Rocca. If you decide to get to the top of the rock, you should remember that this is not an easy task. However, if you manage to get to the top, you will get a wonderful reward – a mesmerizing view of the city from high above.

The view is so enchanting that it is easy to spend hours admiring this fabulous panorama. Moreover, there are still ruins of an old temple at the top of La Rocca. According to historic data, this was a temple of Diana. However, scientists think that the tribes, which lived in this area at that time, worshipped not the goddess but freshwater.

There is a cathedral at the foot of La Rocca. The magnificent church was erected by the order of Roger II, King of Sicily. Construction works started in 1131 and lasted almost one hundred forty years. Cefalu Cathedral is a beautiful example of the Norman architectural style. It is a miracle that the cathedral has survived until our days in almost ideal condition without any renovations. Thanks to towers in Norman style, the cathedral is reminiscent of a castle typical for the knighthood period. Inside the church, take a look at a Latin cross of an unusual shape and multiple antique columns.

To get to Cefalu, tourists need to fly to Palermo first. This is a large international airport that has direct buses to Cefalu. The journey time is one hour. It is also possible to get to the city by train. The ride will be approximately as long as by bus. If you prefer to travel from Naples, a train ride will last roughly nine hours. Upon arrival at the bus or train station, it is easy to get a taxi to the city center. Some hotels offer transfer services for their guests.