Cefalù is located on the northern Sicilian coast, about 70 km from Palermo, at the foot of a rocky promontory. It is one of the largest seaside resorts in the entire region. Despite its small size, every year there is a flow of local, national and foreign visits, in the summer, they triple the population, making the main squares and the most important streets of the country crowded. The city, which is part of the Madonie Park, is included in the club of the most beautiful villages in Italy, the association of small Italian centers that stand out for their great artistic, cultural and historical relevance, for the harmony of the urban fabric , livability and services to citizens. From August 2nd to 6th there will be the party of the SS. Salvatore, owner of the Cathedral and protector of the city. The afternoon of the last day of the celebrations of the SS. Salvatore, there is a competition called Antinna a mari o ‘Ntinna a mari. The race sees young and old fishermen reaching out to conquer a colored flag attached to the tip of a very long trunk, made slippery by soap, which is placed horizontally at the sea and firmly fixed to the quay.
Surroundings
Activities
Cathedral
This religious building was built by the Normans who originally came from Scandinavia and occupied the island between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. They incorporated the Islamic traditions combined with the influences adopted by the architecture of the Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantine; they created a singular style known as Arab-Norman architecture.
The king of Sicily, Roger II, erected the cathedral of Cefalù as a way to fulfill the promise made to the holy Savior. After being trapped by a storm on the sea, he promised to build a church on the spot where he could safely land. He managed to escape from the storm and arrived at the beach of Cefalù.
Medieval washroom
Rebuilt in the sixteenth century in a different position from the original and completely restored in 1991, the wash house was restored at the end of the twentieth century. It is located at the bottom of a lava stone staircase and consists of twenty-two cast iron spouts.
Theatre “Salvatore Cicero”
Recently restored, some scenes of the film “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso” are filmed in the theater and contain the camera used in the scenes. The ceiling is decorated with a canvas of Spanish Rosary, from the late nineteenth century.
