holidays in cefalù

The medieval and beach resort town of Cefalú is located on Sicily's Tyrrhenian (north) coast within the Province of Palermo and is now one of the most popular holiday destinations in Sicily. This popularity has largely stemmed from the excellent beaches that are found along this stretch of coastline, along with the picturesque town itself which has managed to retain much of its medieval character.

Although the early Greek settlements in Cefalú can be dated back to the 5th century BC, the port town's importance did not truly begin until it fell under Roman rule. A period of Arab rule then began in AD 857 which was largely uninterrupted until the capture of the town by the Normans in 1064. Roger II then instigated the building of the town's cathedral in 1131, which is one of the most important Norman monuments in Sicily and includes some of the finest mosaics in Italy. Consecrated in 1166, it includes two enormous bell towers, an open timber roof and 16 ancient columns that support gothic arches.

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Corso Ruggero along with Via Vittorio Emanuele are the two main streets of the old quarter, which is laid out in a grid structure and has numerous restaurants, bars and shops. Sites of interest within the town include the Mandralisca Museum that has a wide range of art that was collected during the lifetime of its founder and includes mosaics, fine art and other archaeological pieces. Along with the cathedral, the skyline of Cefalù is dominated by a huge rock face known simply as 'the Rocca'. At 278m the summit of the rock provides stunning views of the surrounding area and also features the remains of a 5th century BC temple along with various fortifications.

The coastline both in and around Cefalù provides numerous beaches. Within walking distance of the town centre itself is the beach at Lungomare, which provides both public and private beach facilities. The other most popular beaches are Spiaggia Settefrati and Mazzaforno.

Other areas of interest within easy driving distance of Cefalù include the Madonie Mountain range that features the 'Pizzo Carbonara', at 1979m the second highest peak on the island after Etna. The range is now part of a National Park comprising of 40,000 hectares and offers numerous walks. In addition there are the hill-towns of Polizzi Generosa, Petralia Soprana, Gibilmanna and Castelbuono which are all well worth a visit.

The rest of the north coast between Cefalù and Capo d'Orlando is dotted with coastal resorts that are becoming increasingly popular. These include the small resort of Castel di Tusa, approximately 25km east of Cefalù and the town of Sant'Agata di Militello, a further 30km along the coast. Capo d'Orlando itself is probably the next most popular destination on this stretch of north coast after Cefalù and offers several sandy and rocky beaches.

The last two Aeolian islands are Filicudi and Alicudi, which are located to the west of Lipari. Both islands are small and support relatively few people, although tourism is becoming ever popular particularly on Filicudi.

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