Things to do in Cefalù

Cefalù is a fishing town pressed against a cliff. La Rocca, a cliff of about 270 metres, stands straight behind the old town, and the Madonie mountains rise beyond it. Tours in Cefalù split between the sea, the hills and the islands.

Between the rock and the sea

• The cathedral. Norman, begun by Roger II in 1131, with a Christ Pantocrator in the apse mosaic. It is on the UNESCO list with churches in Palermo and Monreale.
• Corso Ruggero. The main street of the old town, leading to the cathedral square.
• The old harbour and beach. Fishing boats at the old port, and a sand beach along the seafront below the town.
• La Rocca. A steep path climbs past ruins of the so-called Temple of Diana to a view over the roofs and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

What the day holds

The town takes half a day on foot. After that people go out: by quad into the hinterland, by boat along the coast, or inland to a farmhouse kitchen.

• Quad bikes. A 90-minute, 25 km route to the village of Sant'Ambrogio, mostly on asphalt. A car licence is required.
• Coast by boat. A 2.5-hour trip from the harbour, with snorkelling and fruit on board. Groups stay small.
• Cooking in the hills. A four-hour class in a country house, then lunch under olive trees with the sea and the Aeolian Islands in view.

The Aeolian day

Lipari and Vulcano make a ten-hour day. A coach drives 1 hour 15 minutes to Milazzo, then a boat takes 55 minutes to Lipari. The stops on Lipari and Vulcano last about 2.5 hours each, and the return reaches Cefalù near 19.00.

Practical

• Weather. July and August afternoons run about 30C. January days sit near 14C. Swimming season runs from June to October.
• La Rocca. It is bare rock with no shade. Climb in the morning, with water.
• From Palermo. Regional trains along the coast take about an hour. The station is a short walk from the old town.
• Cars. The old town is closed to most traffic. Park outside it.
• The sea. A rough sea cancels boat trips and island crossings.