Cefalù, Medieval coastal town in Sicily, Italy
Cefalù is a coastal town on the northern shore of Sicily that spreads along a sandy shoreline below a steep rock. The narrow lanes in the historic center lead from the harbor uphill to the cathedral, while honey-colored stone houses are pressed between the coast and green slopes.
Greek settlers founded a colony here in the 5th century BC, before Arab and Norman rulers shaped the town during the Middle Ages. Roger II ordered the cathedral built from 1131 onward, reflecting his power and the influence of Byzantine craftsmen.
The name comes from Greek and means head, after the shape of the rock rising above the rooftops. Locals gather in the late afternoon along the seafront promenade, where families stroll and fishermen mend their nets.
The railway station sits a short distance outside the center, and from there a brief walk leads to the historic core by the water. Early morning and late afternoon are good times to visit, when fewer travelers are around and the light becomes softer.
A medieval stone washhouse sits below the old town, fed by a spring flowing through the rock. The stone basins were used until the second half of the 20th century and remain accessible today.
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