Cefalù, the town that never sleeps

A winter holiday to discover and taste

“What do I miss the most about Sicily? The sound of the sea” [Andrea Camilleri]

 

There are places in the world that don’t need a specific season to be attractive, as they have an intrinsic magic. One of these is Cefalù, the Norman town that never sleeps. There are different reasons for which visiting Cefalù during the autumn and winter months could be considered a great idea. Among these, the chance of enjoying moments of peace and serenity, reaching a physical and mental balance which the frantic summer months inevitably wear away. You can enjoy the closeness to the sea, the sound of the waves crashing into the rocks which, unlike during the crowded and noisy summer season when crowds of bathers spend their whole day on the beach, is crystal-clear.

 

Nevertheless, the beauty of Cefalù goes beyond this main attraction. The sea won’t be the only one to warmly greet visitors: the narrow streets around Corso Ruggero, between one glimpse and another, offer the view of their beauty, unmasked, in pure Sicilian tradition. You can predict some pleasant encounters as you walk along these streets: one of these encounters is that with the Cathedral of this Norman town; during winter it looks completely different. Bright and surrounded by thousands of illuminations, it stands out with a unique, sensational majesty, which is very different from the perception you can have of it in any other time of the year.

 

Experience the invaluable opportunity of eating excellent fresh fish, caught every night by local fishermen, by choosing among a wide range of restaurants located on Via Bordonaro, one of the most popular streets in town: La Locanda del Marinaio, Kentia, Saraceno, Via Roma Vecchia, Porticciolo and many more. The night, though, is young also in the winter, and you can carry on with your evening on one of the most suggestive rooftops in the whole country, the V Rooftop, a club overlooking the sea and offering a breath-taking view of the entire gulf: from Club Med to the edge of the pier. Here you can sip excellent drinks while listening to a Dj set or live music.

 

An integrated town such as Cefalù is the perfect place to immerse yourselfe in the Italian language and style. For this reason two Italian language schools where born, Culturforum and the Solemar Academy, where learning to communicate is the first rule to follow. There are cultural exchange events during which students are followed and driven by professional teachers, to learn to express themselves effortlessly in Italian.

 

Among the main attractions worth visiting there is the Rock of Cefalù. The Temple of the ancient goddess Diana, it is open with guided tours or self-guided audio tours in Italian, English, French, German and Spanish. The visit lasts 40 minutes and entrance is allowed until half an hour before closing time. The winter visiting time is from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm and from 2.30 pm to 6.00 pm.

Neither does the sea at Cefalù rest: during the day you can can call the Piranha team to go surfing. Sea, food, relax and fun are the main ingredients for a winter holiday in one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in Italy.