Showing 1-7 of 7 results
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Duomo di Cefalù
Legend has it that the Duomo di Cefalù was built by Roger II in the 12th century to fulfil a vow to God after his fleet was saved during a violent storm off Cefalù; however, it is more likely the result of Roger's tempestuous relationship with the Palermitan archbishopric. Eager to curb the growing influence of the papacy in Sicily (with whom the Palermo archbishopric had close ties), Roger thought that building a mighty church so far from Palermo would prove an effective smack in the chops. Hardly surprising then that, from the outside, the cathedral looks more like a massive fortress.
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Il Castello
Apart from a few loose rocks there is nothing left of the Il Castello, a Norman castle that once crowned the rock's peak, or the Arab citadel.
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lavatoio
On Via Vittorio Emanuele is the lavatoio, a 16th-century wash house which was built over a spring that was well known in antiquity.
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Museo Mandralisca
Off the Piazza del Duomo is the private Museo Mandralisca. Its collection of Greek ceramics and Arab pottery is rather faded, with the notable exception the Ritratto di un uomo ignoto (Portrait of an Unknown Man; 1465), Antonello da Messina's earliest known portrait. His smirk is almost as enigmatic and thought provoking as the Mona Lisa's - but without the attendant hype.
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Osteria Magno
The Osteria Magno is an imposing 14th-century mansion that has been heavily renovated over the centuries and today is only open for temporary art exhibitions. If you want to get a look inside at other times, ask for the keys at the tourist office.
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Salita Saraceno
An enormous staircase, the Salita Saraceno, winds up through three tiers of city walls in a 30-minute climb to the summit of La Rocca. From here you have wonderful views of the town below. The steps are to the right of the Banco di Sicilia on Piazza Garibaldi. From here the way is clearly signposted.
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Tempio di Diana
The 4th-century Tempio di Diana provides a romantic getaway for young lovers.
Showing 1-7 of 7 results
