The majestic Arab-Norman Cathedral, the Portrait of unknown by Antonello da Messina kept in the beautiful rooms of the Mandralisca Museum, the history that exudes from the archaeological remains of the Rocca and then the churches and palaces that speak of its medieval past… Cefalù is known all over the world for its artistic beauties and, thanks to them, it is one of the most visited villages in Sicily.
Only seemingly small and collected, this town on the northern coast of the island, holds an infinite number of artistic, historical and cultural treasures that reveal the many traces of all the cultures that have settled there over the centuries.
Festival and concerts
Cefalù is one of the most sought-after destinations for festivals that make a stop in Sicily. In autumn, it shows its most fascinating itineraries for the event “Le vie dei Tesori“(the Ways of Treasures), the cathedral is the theatre of concerts and the streets are animated by the Festival of philosophies or gastronomic events such as the one that celebrates capone fish, one of the local delicacies that becomes a pretext to make food culture. At the end of summer it’s time for the Film Festival, in the beautiful setting of the Old Marina.
Cinema by the sea
One of the most beautiful and acclaimed films of the last century was shot right here in Cefalù: it is Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, the film by Giuseppe Tornatore, which won the Oscar in 1990. Cefalù was the set of many scenes, such as those of the outdoor cinema screenings at the Old Pier and Porta Marina. Other scenes were shot inside the Salvatore Cicero Municipal Theatre, a typical nineteenth-century Italian theater, shaped like horseshoe. It was the headquarters of the German troops during the Second World War but is more famous precisely as film set of the movie by Tornatore. The town has also hosted the filming of other famous films such as A ciascuno il suo (E. Petri, 1967), Il regista di matrimoni (M. Bellocchio, 2005), Tutti i santi giorni (P. Virzì, 2012), Indiana Jones 5 (J. Mangold, 2023), I leoni di Sicilia (serie di P. Genovese, 2023).
A walk through the centre
Walking through Cefalù the works of art that exude culture are not counted and are all concentrated in a few hundred square meters: it starts from the Cathedral, Basilica of the Transfiguration, founded in 1131 by the Norman king Ruggero II. Unique and spectacular mosaic of the Christ Pantocrator and others of the apse, of Byzantine art. And then the imposing towers and the cloister, the oldest in Sicily, with double columns with a double capital. Since 2015 it is a UNESCO Heritage site in “Palermo arabo-normanna and the cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale.
Not far away, there are to see: the Roman road, interesting archaeological evidence of 6 meters long paved pavement of the Hellenistic-Roman city (1st. century B.C.), the Osterio Magno, fortified palace of the 12th century, belonged to the nobles Ventimiglia and, perhaps, a portion of the so-called Domus Regia of King Ruggero the Norman (contains archaeological evidence of 2nd-1st century BC), the votive edicole, small architectural structures, expression of popular devotion that are set up especially on the occasion of the Feast of SS. Salvatore (notable those of Via Botta and Via Spinuzza), the medieval wash house, a structure perhaps from the Arab-Norman era, renovated in the 16th century. (it has 22 iron mouths from which flow the icy waters of the small river Cefalino that run between the limestone stones “a lumachella”). And then Porta Pescara with its splendid gothic arch, the only one surviving of the four medieval gates, in continuity with those of ancient times, the bastion of Capo Marchiafava, a mighty defensive bulwark from which you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama (it houses a digital museum with augmented reality visors that allow an immersive experience among the monumental assets of the UNESCO site “Arab-Norman Palermo and the cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale”).
The silence of the courtyards
In Cefalù you can breathe culture and beauty at every step: just walk through the historic center along the streets that connect the base of the Rocca with the seafront, and look up on the courtyards, the narrow alleys on which the gates of the houses; sometimes simple and austere, others decorated with plants and flowers. Everything here tells an ancient story. Cortile Battipanni and Cortile Gonzaga are just two examples of fascinating views to seek and discover in the maze of historic streets.
Mandralisca Museum
It is located in the palace of the intellectual, patriot and benefactor Enrico Pirajno di Mandralisca from which the present-day Mandralisca Museum takes its name. It is a multidisciplinary museum and for all tastes: you can choose to lose yourself in the rooms of the archaeological collection (do not miss the famous Crater of the seller of tuna, a vase with columns and red figures of 480 B.C. about). Or, to discover the rich monetary, a collection of malacological (molluscs) among the richest in Europe, or among furniture and furnishings of the Mandralisca family. And of course in the famous art gallery: here is the highlight, Portrait of unknown sailor by Antonello da Messina, the second most famous smile in the world, after that of the Mona Lisa.