3Cefalu
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Located between the coastline and the mountains, this picturesque village is small in size but is large in popularity for its beautiful beaches and medieval streets that are simply unforgettable. The main streets to see in Cefalù are Corso Ruggero and Via Vittorio Emanuele, and it will be around these and Piazza del Duomo where we will locate most of the attractions of the town that inspired the movie Cinema Paradiso. Together with the Cappella Palatina of Palermo and the Cathedral of Monreale they form the star trio in terms of religious representation in the majestic Arab-Norman style. The apse is covered by a large Byzantine mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, the oldest in all of Sicily. It has been declared a Universal Heritage Site by UNESCO and they say that it was built by Ruggero II after surviving a shipwreck in the vicinity; but the reality is that he wanted to show his supremacy before the powerful archbishopric of Palermo. The 16 interior columns with Roman capitals, which are believed to have been extracted from the ancient Temple of Diana, which was located in La Rocca, the highest point to see in Cefalù, of which I will speak later, are striking. Don’t leave without looking at the details of its cloister. In addition to the cathedral itself, the Town Hall (former Monastery of Santa Catalina), the Palazzo Pirajno, the Palazzo Maria and the Vescovile Seminary are located in this square. Click the next ARROW to see the next image!
