Cefalù

The Cathedral of Cefalù is the most famous and extraordinary monument of this beautiful seaside town. Since 2015 it is part of the UNESCO serial site: Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale.

The Cefalù wash house is an ancient public wash house dating back to the Middle Ages. It is one of the most symbolic monuments of this fantastic town and its history is linked to an ancient legend

The Mandralisca Museum is a small museum located in Cefalù, a short walk from the Cathedral. It was founded thanks to the testamentary donation of Francesco Pirajno, Baron of Mandralisca, who during his lifetime had amassed a vast collection of artifacts and artwork

The Osterio Magno is one of the iconic buildings of Cefalù. Built in the early 1300s, it was the winter residence of the powerful Ventimiglia family. Various restoration works have brought to light some pre-existing rooms dating back to the period between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC.

The Antica Farmacia Cirincione in Cefalù is one of the four historical pharmacies in Sicily, along with the Farmacia Cartia in Scicli, the Farmacia Teresi in Palermo and the Antica Farmacia in Roccavaldina.

The Rocca di Cefalù, together with the Cathedral and the medieval wash-house, is one of the symbols of this splendid seaside town. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the promontory, from the Hellenistic age on, acquired an increasingly important role in the defense against attacks from the sea.

Porta Pescara is the only surviving one of the four gates that opened along the walls of Cefalù. Its construction dates back to the period when Cefalù was ruled by the Ventimiglia family, between 1200 and 1300.

The Castle of Cefalù is one of the most important monuments that can be seen when visiting the Rocca. Due to its position, in the past it played a fundamental role in the defense of the medieval town of Cefalù.

The Temple of Diana in Cefalù is one of the monuments that can be seen when visiting the Rocca that dominates the town. Despite the name, in reality there is still an aura of mystery around this construction.

The Church of Maria Santissima della Catena in Cefalù is located in Piazza Garibaldi, where once stood the so-called Porta di Terra. Built in the 18th century for the Lombi family, it is one of the richest churches in the town.

The Church of the Annunziata in Cefalù is a small 16th-century building located on Corso Ruggero. After a long restoration, today the space is no longer used to celebrate masses but as an auditorium.

The Corte delle Stelle (Court of the Stars) in Cefalù is a building designed in 1984 by architect Marcello Panzarella. This space, created as a support to the Auditorium set up in the nearby Church of the Annunziata, is used for exhibitions and cultural activities.

The Church of Purgatory in Cefalù, also known as the Church of St. Stephen, is one of the few remaining examples of Baroque architecture in the small town. Built in 1668, it was the seat of the Confraternity of the Blacks.

The Megalithic Walls of Cefalù are the ancient defensive fortifications of the town, named for the imposing size of the blocks with which they were built.

The Postierla of Cefalù, or small back door, is an opening carved into the megalithic walls, the ancient fortifications of the Greek era. The opening was made so that the inhabitants could more easily reach a freshwater spring that emerged just a few meters from the sea.

The Church of the Immacolatella in Cefalù is located in via Mandralisca, a short walk from the Museum. Built in 1661, it was the seat of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, composed of clerics and lay people whose mission was to help the dying.

The bastion of Capo Marchiafava is an ancient defensive bulwark of Cefalù with a polygonal shape and a point projecting towards the sea. Completed in 1642, it is the most advanced northern bastion of the town’s fortification system.

The Teatro Comunale of Cefalù (Municipal Theater), dedicated to the violinist Salvatore Cicero, is one of the little jewels of the city. Originally built in 1816, the building has undergone modifications and extensions over the years, but has maintained its original appearance.

The Lido di Cefalù is the urban beach of the beautiful seaside town of the same name and runs along the seafront for about 1.5 kilometers.

Thelema Abbey is the name Aleister Crowley gave to the house where he lived in Cefalù for three years. The English magician and occultist completely covered the walls with erotic frescoes, which were covered over by the local population after his expulsion from Italy.