HISTORY: Cefalù was settled around the 4th century BC by the Greeks. In 307 BC, the town was conquered by Syracuse, and in 254 BC by Rome. Between the 7th and the 8th century AD, Cefalù was under Byzantine domination. In 858, it was conquered by the Arabs and became part of the Emirate of Palermo, and in 1063 by the Normans of Roger I, the first Count of Sicily.
Starting with the 15th century, the history of Cefalù can be assimilated to that of Sicily and the rest of Italy. After the landing of Giuseppe Garibaldi on the island, in January 1861, the city proclaimed its adhesion to the newly created Kingdom of Italy. Read More [...]
GEOGRAPHY: Cefalù is a town of about 14.300 inhabitants located on the northern coast of Sicily, part of the Metropolitan City of Palermo. The town is situated about 70 kilometers east of Palermo, at the foot of a magnificent rock called La Rocca.
TRANSPORT: The closest airport is the Falcone Borsellino International Airport, located about 100 kilometers west of the city, in Punta Raisi. To get to Cefalù from the airport, you can take one of the buses of Autolinee Prestia e Comandè to Palermo, and then the train from Palermo Centrale railway station. The bus ticket costs 6.30€ and the trip takes about one hour and the train ticket is 5.60€ and the trip takes about 50 minutes.
If you arrive in Sicily at the Catania–Fontanarossa Airport, near Catania, you can get to Cefalù by train, from Catania Centrale railway station. The trip takes between 3 and 4 hours, and the cheapest ticket costs 12.80€. A train ticket from Messina is 9.90€ and the duration of the trip is between 2 and 3 hours.
LANDMARKS: The city is now a seaside resort and a tourist destination, known for its beautiful long beach, for its quiet historical center and for its wonderful Norman cathedral. If you dare, you can climb the fortified cliff of La Rocca, but keep in mind, it's not as easy as it seems.
MORE INFO: Touristic Portal | Palermo Airport | Catania Airport | Car Hire | Train Timetables & Fares | Hotels in Cefalù | Tours & Activities in Cefalù