Cefalù
There
Pearl
of the Tyrrhenian Sea
The Borgo
Cefalù: art, history, sea and wonder
Suspended between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Madonie, at the foot of a rocky promontory 70 km from Palermo, Cefalù, declared a UNESCO heritage site, is in one of the most enchanting places in northern Sicily.
Visually characterized in a very characteristic way by the typical profile of its fortress, inside it is all a succession of narrow medieval alleys that give a sense of charm and mystery to every corner.
Cefalù is one of the most popular spring and summer destinations in Sicily both for the particularity of its village and for the magnificent sea, of a transparent and crystalline blue, enhanced by a myriad of wonderful and pleasantly accessible beaches.
To visit in the first place there is certainly the Cathedral which according to a legend was built for the vote of Ruggero II of Altavilla, first king of Sicily,
miraculously escaped a terrible storm.
As for the rest of the village, the town has kept the medieval urban layout unchanged over the centuries, winding through a series of narrow streets that make it extremely suggestive.
The historic center is surrounded by megalithic walls from the 5th century BC, most of which are perfectly preserved and can be visited like a real open-air museum. Originally there were four doors on them, of which today remains under Porta Marina, a Gothic arch open directly onto the sea.
Another treasure is the medieval wash house in front of the sixteenth-century Palazzo Martino, entirely dug into the rock at the mouth of the Cefalino river, characterized by the presence of a series of basins into which the water flowing from 22 lion heads flows.
Definitely typical is the seaside village dotted with ancient houses built right in front of the sea.
Also worth seeing is the temple of Diana, a particular sanctuary built inside a megalithic structure linked to the cult of water, in which an ancient cistern from the 9th century BC is preserved under imposing dolmen stone slabs.
