Cefalu is a city in the province of Palermo, located on the northern coast of Sicily, on the coast of Tyrrhenian Sea, about 185 km west of Messina. Cefalu is nowadays one of the major all-inclusive vacation resorts of the region and there go every year a large number of tourists seeking to spend relaxing moments on its excellent beaches. As many other towns of Sicily, Cefalu has been founded by Greeks and has a rich history.
One of the major attractions of the city is the Cathedral. Its build begun in 1131 in a style of Norman architecture which would be more accurately called Sicilian Romanesque. The exterior is very well preserved and it's largely decorated with interlacing pointed arches. On each side is a massive tower of four storeys. The round-headed Norman portal is particularly interesting. A semi-circular apse is set into the east end wall. The groined vaulting of the roof is visible in the choir and the right transept, while the rest of the church has a wooden roof. Fine cloisters, coeval with the cathedral, adjoin it.
Some remains of the ancient city are visible today. The most interesting monument remaining from the ancient city is an edifice consisting of various apartments and having the appearance of a palace, but constructed from large irregular limestone blocks, in the style called polygonal.
On promontory are extensive remains of a Saracenic castle. The town's fortifications formerly extended to the shore, in the form of two long walls protecting the port. There are remains of a wall of massive stone blocks at the modern Porta Garibaldi.
Cefalu gains more and more in popularity between the exquisite all-inclusive vacation resorts of Italy. In fact, Cefalu is a picturesque little village nestled between a rock and a beautiful beach, on the northern coast of Sicily. Cefalu is now renowned outside of Europe as a great place to spend a relaxing vacation.
Maintaining much of its original medieval charm, the tourism industry is now becoming a major factor in the entire region's economy. Luxury hotels, villas, vacation home rentals, pubs, and cafes are easy to find there. The village has many excellent restaurants to choose from. Beaches of Cefalu are very good and one of the selling points of the town. With its golden sand the main beach of Cefalu is one of the best sandy beaches in the entire Sicily and stretches from the historic center down to the newer hotels. Walking along the shore you can find some lush and tropical vegetation.
If you climb to the top of the "rock" you can admire some spectacular views of the town and the red roof houses along with the Tyrrhenian Sea. The vegetation is lush with oranges, cactus figs, almond and olive trees.
If you intend to spend your next vacation in Sicily don't miss the chance to discover one of the island's best kept secrets. It is truly an excellent place for vacation, because it is spectacular, has excellent beaches and the accommodation is great. Due to its growing popularity, in vacation resorts of Cefalu where developed many villas, vacation home rentals and all-inclusive hotels. Whether you are a first-time traveler to Sicily, Italy, or even a veteran you should not miss the opportunity to travel to Cefalu and spend there a few relaxing days.