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Duomo and Piazza, Cefalu Sicily

Escape to Cefalu

February 9, 2017 By Jan Robinson 19 Comments

This post may contain compensated links. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it won’t cost you any more by doing so. You can read our full disclaimer here.


When the streets of Sicily’s Capital, Palermo, get a little too hot and gritty, it’s time to escape to Cefalu for some cool seaside relaxation. It’s true that in Summer you’ll be far from alone in your admiration of Cefalu’s long beach and cute streets, but at other times of year it has a more relaxed vibe.

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Archway Cefalu Sicily

Cefalu Balconies, Sicily

Cefalu More Streets of

How to Get to Cefalu from Palermo.

The trip only takes an average of 50 minutes by train, so if you’re time poor, it is possible to allocate as little as half a day to this medieval town. It is so easy, just hop on one of twenty trains each day from Palermo Centrale and get off at Cefalu.

We arrived by Regional train and mistakenly caught an Intercity on the return trip.  It wasn’t a problem and the conductor just collected the extra payment on the train.

How to get to the old town.

Leave Cefalu station, turn right down Via Gramsci then follow Via Matteotti into the old town, the Duomo, La Rocca, Bastione Capo Marchiofava and the cute as a postcard Port.

When the Duomo first came into view it seemed lost amongst the restaurants and stage in the Piazza.

Duomo and Piazza, Cefalu Sicily

But with the Piazza behind us the Duomo and rock were impressive.

Cefalu Duomo Magic Sicily

The Duomo’s mosaics are the oldest and best-preserved mosaics in Sicily – older than those in Cattedrale di Monreale in Palermo.

Glittering Byzantine mosaic of Christ All Powerful in central apse of Cefalu Duomo.

Cefalu Duomo Mosaics, Sicily

Although the central apse is all glitz and glamour, the rest of the Duomo is simplicity itself. These columns are thought to come from the ruined Tempio di Diana on La Rocca above.

Cefalu Duomo Simplicity

Cefalu Duomo Simplicity and Mosaics

Even though our visit was in Spring the weather was quite hot and climbing La Rocca lacked appeal. After checking out the the Duomo (don’t forget the cloisters) it was off to Bastione Capo Marchiofava for the views, before finding our spot on a port-side seat along with the retired fishermen and housewives.

La Rocca – The Rock – is accessible by a staircase, Salita Saracena, that climbs up through three layers of walls to where the first inhabitants – a race of giants says local folklore – lived. The view from the top is fantastic with views to the Aeolian islands.

La Rocca Cefalu Sicily

The stark ambience of Bastione.

Bastione Capo Marchiofava Cefalu Sicily

Cefalu Restaurant near Bastione

Cefalu Coast from Bastione

Cefalu Net Maker in Sicily

From the small fishing port we looked across to the beach and seafront promenade. The kids played football and when the ball inevitably landed in the water they jumped in to retrieve it. Such fun.

Boat at Port looking across to Seafront Promenade

Cefalu Fishing Port

Cefalu Fishing Boat Harbour Beach

Down Via Vittorio Emanuele, at the end of XXV Novembre, look for an alcove of 16th Century wash basins known as Lavatoio. When you see a wide curved staircase shaded by large trees, descend to a cool spot where women traditionally did the family’s washing.

Curved staircase leads to Lavatoio in Cefalu, Sicily

Lavatoio.

Lavatoio, Cefalu Sicily

Cefalu Lavatoio

Lavatoio in Cefalu Sicily

How to get to the beach from the Train Station.

On the other hand if you just want to lay like a Lizard on the beach, turn left into Via Gramsci, veer right into Via Martoglio and then it is a straight run down Via Vazzano, to bury your toes in sand. The section of beach near the old town is public, although you will still need to pay for an umbrella and sun chair, or lay on your towel directly on the sand budget travel style.

Public Beach, Cefalu.

Spiaggia di Cefalù, Sicily

Cefalu Seafront Promenade

Cefalu Train Station

Budget Travel Tips.

La Rocca – 3 Euro Entrance Fee.

Opening Hours are 9 am – 4.45 pm Oct/Apr.  9 am – 6.45 pm May/Sept.

Allow 30 minutes for the climb.

Train fares – Palermo to Cefalu. Regional trains are cheaper (5.60 euro) but slower than the faster Intercity trains (9 euro).

Thanks for reading and commenting – we really appreciate it. If you have a blog we would love you to add your travel post to the link below for Nancie’s Travel Photo Thursday which we co-host with Ruth from Tanama Tales and Rachel from Rachel’s Ruminations. 

 

An InLinkz Link-up


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Filed Under: Destination, Italy, Ten Weeks in Europe 2015

About Jan Robinson

Jan Robinson writes about travel on her Budget Travel Talk blog. A solo traveller in her teens, for the last 40 years Jan has travelled through Australia, Asia, Europe, Turkey and New Zealand with her husband. They specialise in road trips, caravanning and Independent travel without spending a fortune. Her favourite destination is Turkey and she is currently dreaming of Myanmar and Mexico.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jackie Smith

    February 10, 2017 at 2:55 am

    Now that is one simply amazing Duomo. I love trains so what a perfect idea to take the train and end up in this charming place!

    Reply
  2. jill

    February 10, 2017 at 12:22 pm

    I love your photos! Cefalu definitely looks like some place I would love to visit! I have a friend traveling to Sicily next month – I’m going to have to fill her in on a cool place to go.

    Reply
  3. Kathy Marris

    February 10, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    Ok ok! You’ve convinced me. I want to escape to Cefalu tomorrow! Sicily is on our agenda when we visit Italy in a few months time. I can’t wait!

    Reply
    • Jan

      February 10, 2017 at 3:43 pm

      Ha ha, Sicily is a great destination.

      Reply
  4. Sharon Wagner

    February 11, 2017 at 12:24 am

    What a great city for a photo safari. Or maybe a pizza safari. Italy is at the top of my bucket list. Thanks for the tour.

    Reply
    • Jan

      February 11, 2017 at 1:16 pm

      I believe the pizzas are good in Cefalu too Sharon!

      Reply
  5. Ruth

    February 11, 2017 at 2:42 am

    I really like the vibe of this town! Looks like it get very lively with its cafes and beaches. I am sure my husband would drag me to the top of La Roca. I mean, I like high places but I do not like when 200 flights of stairs are involved (making this up). I like your travel style (dress, sandals and crossbody bag). #TPThursday

    Reply
    • Jan

      February 11, 2017 at 1:16 pm

      I find wearing dresses and sandals (good walking sandals) is the coolest way to dress in a hot climate. I’m like you Ruth – I like the views from high up but I don’t like lots of stairs, especially on a hot day.

      Reply
  6. Trekking with Becky

    February 13, 2017 at 4:46 am

    Fabulous! I can’t believe I’ve never heard of Cefalu!

    Reply
  7. Marco

    February 13, 2017 at 8:11 pm

    Hi Jan, thank you for the great post and pictures. Cefalù is really a beautiful town.
    Just a small correction: it’s not true that the mosaics in Cefalù are the oldest and best-preserved in Sicily. The mosaics in Cappella Palatina and Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio in Palermo are from 1943, the ones in Cefalù from 1948. And they are all wonderfully preserved.

    Reply
  8. Marco

    February 13, 2017 at 8:40 pm

    I apologize for the mistake in my previous comment, of course the dates are 1143 and 1148…those mosaics weren’t done during WW2 for sure!

    Reply
  9. Jo ~ Lifestyle Fifty

    February 14, 2017 at 4:27 pm

    Cefalu looks gorgeous – I’ve never been to Sicily, but yes I’d love to visit. A train ride and gorgeous scenery, yes Please!

    Reply
    • Jan

      February 15, 2017 at 11:24 am

      Sicily is Italian, but not, if you know what I mean Jo!

      Reply
  10. Photo(Geo)grapher

    February 15, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    What a fabulous post! So many great pictures! This city looks great. I’ve never heard of this one. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  11. Michele {Malaysian Meanders}

    February 16, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    The apse of the Duomo is gorgeous and such a contrast to the rest of the building. Cefalu looks like a nice town. I look forward to the time when I can travel more leisurely and not be tied to school breaks (or work vacations either).

    Reply
    • Jan

      February 16, 2017 at 7:30 pm

      Yes it will be lovely when you can travel on your own timetable Michele!

      Reply
  12. Birgit | Groove Is In The Heart

    February 23, 2017 at 7:33 am

    Wow! Cefalu looks like a great place to visit. Thanks for the beautiful pics and useful information.

    Reply
  13. Anwar

    February 24, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    What a simply gorgeous old town. Really looks so peaceful there.

    Reply

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