Have you already booked your vacation in Cefalù and want to know what to see and what are the most interesting spots in this small town? Well, in today’s article, we’ll discover exactly what to see in Cefalù, as this is one of the first questions that everyone asks when they hear about this “Pearl of the Mediterranean,” which is nestled like a gem in a cove on the northwestern coast of Sicily.
This small and charming medieval village of Cefalù lies directly at the foot of the Madonie mountains, and its incomparable beauty has earned it numerous accolades for the quality of tourism. We know that Cefalù extends for about 65 km² to the east in the Palermo area and boasts an artistic, cultural, and natural heritage of inestimable value.
Among the Norman period churches, the bustling narrow cobblestone streets, its golden beaches, and the wonderful colorful houses overlooking the sea, it represents an unmissable stop on any trip to Sicily, capable of providing unforgettable emotions to its visitors both in the colder months and in the hotter months of the summer season.
From the moment you set foot in the city, it will welcome you in all its splendor with a beautiful riot of colors and salty scents, where time seems to have absolutely stopped among the characteristic golden alleyways of limestone. Now, let’s see together what to see in Cefalù if you choose to spend a weekend or, even better, a few days of vacation there.
Vacation in Cefalù: what to see? Here are some interesting suggestions
The first place we propose in this list today is the beautiful Rocca di Cefalù. Rising almost 270 meters, it is an imposing limestone rock that dominates the entire city and from which you can also admire all of Cefalù from a truly breathtaking point of view. Its highest point is reached by a historic-naturalistic path that dates back to the Medieval period, along which you can admire ancient ruins.
It is precisely from this privileged position that visitors can stop to admire one of the most enchanting panoramas ever seen, especially if they reach the summit at sunset. In a wide embrace, stretching from Palermo to Capo D’Orlando, the view from the Rocca di Cefalù makes this place a truly unmissable stop for the most romantic souls.
As for art lovers, they will have no doubts about what to see in Cefalù since the Mandralisca Museum gathers some of the most beautiful treasures of the island, in a collection composed of paintings, artworks, ancient coins, archaeological finds, and various furnishings. This museum was founded by the Baron of Mandralisca in 1809 and houses mosaics, ceramics, and other works of local craftsmanship.
Lastly, if there is one place that smells of ancient tradition more than any other, it is undoubtedly the medieval-style late Renaissance washhouse. It is a suggestive place where the city’s inhabitants gathered to wash laundry, using the underground passage of the river that then flows into the sea.
Although the current structure has undergone modifications over time, the signs of life in the washhouse are still visible in the “a lumachella” staircase made of polished lava stone and in the basins where these clothes were washed.
