If you’re on vacation in Cefalů, then you’ll definitely want to visit the beautiful and majestic cathedral, which is now famous worldwide. Well, in these lines today, we’ll talk about the Cefalů Cathedral schedule and, in general, everything you need to know.
A symbol of the city and a truly unmissable stop for anyone visiting Cefalů, the Basilica of the Transfiguration, better known as the Duomo or Cathedral of Cefalů, is a hymn to beauty that withstands time, wars, and modernity, as it retains traces of Arab-Norman influence on the island.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for almost ten years now, the cathedral stands in the heart of the historic center, in the square of the same name, rising in all its grandeur against the Rock of Cefalů which stands behind it. It is framed by two mighty towers, and the work, at the time, was commissioned by the first King of Sicily, Roger II, in 1131, although it was consecrated almost a century and a half later.
The Norman Romanesque style that characterizes it and makes it a beautiful testimony of that time is visible not only on the outside, in its two large Moorish-inspired side towers, but also and above all inside.
After climbing the short staircase that separates the square from the Duomo, we find ourselves in front of a spectacular terraced courtyard, a 15th-century portico composed of three arches with cross vaults that leads to the facade, anticipated by the Porta Regum as well as a finely decorated marble portal. The interior of the Cathedral of Cefalů is in the shape of a Latin cross and is divided into three naves supported by truly imposing and solemn granite columns.
In all this, however, it must be said that the point where art, wonder, and history merge is definitely the central apse that consecrates the Duomo as one of the most incredible examples of Middle Eastern religious architecture in all of Sicily. This is clad in precious Byzantine mosaics and has as its dominant figure the Christ Pantocrator, who stands solemnly in the apse’s conch.
Cefalů Cathedral: What are the Mass and Tower visit hours?
The Cathedral is open for visits every day from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Access to the Cathedral is free, but if you want to visit the towers, along with the cloister and the museum area, then you need to purchase a ticket by choosing one of the itineraries offered on the official website of Cefalů Cathedral.
The first option is the “red itinerary,” which includes a complete visit. This grants access to the Towers, the south side Roofs of the Cathedral, the view under the Mosaics, the Sacristy, the Museum Area, as well as the Sansoni Hall, the Bishop’s Chapel, and finally the Canonical Cloister. The full price for this itinerary is €10.00 each.
Then, there’s the “blue itinerary,” which includes a visit to the Towers, the south side Roofs of the Cathedral, and finally the view under the Mosaics, at a cost of €7.00 each.
Lastly, there’s the “green itinerary,” which includes a visit to the Sacristy, the Museum Area, the Sansoni Hall, the Bishop’s Chapel, and also the Canonical Cloister. This time, the cost is €6.00 each.
In any case, ticket prices vary depending on the chosen route, and discounts are available for school groups and individuals entitled to reductions (people with disabilities, over 65, law enforcement, students, and teachers), while children under 5 years enter for free.
