Cefalù Monuments - Cefalù what to see - Cefalù Cathedral - Cefalù Rock - Cefalù Mandralisca Museum

Cefalu The Historic Town, Italy

The old town center, bounded by the sea and the rocky promontory, is crossed by Corso Ruggero, Cefalù main street, dotted with stores and meeting-places. If you follow it to the end, you will come to Piazza del Duomo, which is dominated by the cathedral and enclosed by lovely medieval palazzi.

The Duomo (Cathedral)

It is the great symbol of Cefalù built between 1131 and 1240 by the Norman King Roger II, its Norman character is very evident from its facade, which is framed by massive towers with pointed tips. The facade is divided into two levels by a 15th-century portico.

However, the real marvel is the inside, consisting of three naves and a wooden roof. You can't but be astonished by the Byzantine-style mosaic cycle (1148) that covers the entire apse and presbytery. At the center of the mosaics, dominated by gold and emerald green, Christ Pantocrator (Christ Almighty) delivers a blessing, as in the Palatine Chapel in Palermo and Duomo in Monreale. You can also see many other Renaissance and Baroque works of art in the Cathedral. Alongside, there is a beautiful Cloister, decorated with twin columns with sculpted capitals.

Museo Comunale Mandralisca

The museum, founded by the Baron of Mandralisca, holds archeological and numismatic collections and a section on malacology (the study of mollusks). The picture gallery contains the famous and mysterious Ritratto di Ignoto (Portrait of an Unknown Man) by Antonello da Messina.

A short distance away, there are the fascinating remains of an ancient medieval washhouse used by the women of Cefalù until a few decades ago. A stone's throw from the washhouse, you will find the small, old port, one of Cefalù's most characteristic corners, especially at dusk.

The Rock

A visit to the rock is highly recommended. The stroll first touches the so-called Temple of Diana, the remains of a megalithic building from the 5th century BC, and when you reach the top, you can see the remains of a Byzantine castle. The scenic view from the Rocca is fully worth the effort to get there: the view spans the horizon from Capo d'Orlando to Palermo and, on a clear day, you can see the Aeolian Islands. How to get there: from the center, take the Salita dei Saraceni. The climb will take about 40 minutes and you're better off avoiding the hot part of the day in the summer; and don't forget a bottle of water!