Free walking tours in Cefalù and what to see

Must-sees

Cefalù is a fishing town on Sicily's north coast, squeezed between the sea and a great rocky headland, the Rocca. Its Norman cathedral is part of Palermo's Arab-Norman ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded by King Roger II and its apse keeps a mosaic of Christ Pantocrator on a gold background. Piazza del Duomo, with palm trees and terraces, is the centre of town life.

Wander along Corso Ruggero and the streets running down to the sea to the medieval wash-house, carved into the rock beside a spring. The Mandralisca museum holds Antonello da Messina's Portrait of an Unknown Man. From the Capo Marchiafava bastion you get views of the coast, and the town beach is a stone's throw from the old town. If you fancy a walk, a path climbs the Rocca, where the remains of the so-called Temple of Diana and old fortifications survive.

Free tours and guided visits

Cefalù has no regular free walking tours, and people usually explore the town on their own. What is mostly on offer are boat trips along the coast, some with a snorkelling stop. The town is also a starting point for trips: to the Aeolian Islands, such as Stromboli, Panarea, Lipari and Vulcano, to Etna and Taormina, and to the villages of the Madonie park with a ricotta tasting.

How long to spend

Half a day is enough for the cathedral, the wash-house and the old town. With a full day you add the climb up the Rocca and an afternoon on the beach. With two or three days you can take a boat trip, an outing to the Madonie or the Aeolian Islands, and enjoy the town at sunset, when the visitors from Palermo have gone.

Where to stay

Inside the old town there are guesthouses and apartments, with the cathedral and the beach on foot, although parking is difficult. Along the seafront and in the newer part there are larger hotels, some with sea views. In the coves along the nearby coast there are holiday resorts, and the Madonie inland has agriturismi.