Cefalù

Cefalù is a city in the province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily with 14,393 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012).

Location and data

The city is located on the north coast of Sicily, at the foot of the Rocca di Cefalù, a 270 meter high limestone spur between Palermo and Capo d' Orlando. Distance to Palermo towards the west is 70 km, 162 km east to Messina direction. In the hinterland south of the foothills of the Monti Madonie extend.

Cefalù is located on the railway line Messina Fiumetorto. The A20 motorway is approximately 4 miles away. The corresponding connection point is, Cefalu -West ( Cefalù Ovest ).

The inhabitants live mainly from tourism and services. Other sources of income are agriculture and fishing.

The neighboring municipalities are Castelbuono, Gratteri Isnello, Lascari and Pollina.

History

In the area of Cefalù in prehistoric times people have settled. The Greek historian Diodorus Siculus mentioned the location under the former name for the first time Kephaloidion 396 BC. Under Roman rule, the city was from 254 BC Cephaloedium. Both mean the main or head and refers to the shape of the Rocca di Cefalù, on which the settlement was originally.

To 858 AD, the city was conquered by the Arabs in 1063 by the Normans. Under Roger II of Sicily in the city center was moved to the foot of the limestone spur and in the 12th century saw Cefalù its heyday. In this period, among other things, the city's cathedral was built.

There superimposed porphyry sarcophagi, had had made the Norman king Roger II for himself and one of his successors. Porphyry was very difficult to obtain. Frederick II had the bones of his father Henry VI. buried in one of these sarcophagi and converted into the Cathedral of Palermo, the other he kept himself before. This transfer was very ungraciously received and rejected by the clergy in Cefalù, but could not be prevented. Cefalù later became a bishopric.

Cityscape

The plan of the Old Town was built in the 12th century with the Norman church in the center. The road system was laid out in a grid-like pattern around it. The two main streets are the Corso Ruggero in north-south direction and the Via Vittorio Emanuele in east-west direction. These two main streets of the Old Town and the Piazzetta and the Piazza Garibaldi Spinola accommodate monuments such as the Palazzo Osterio Magno, the Church of Santo Stefano or the Porta Marina, the only remaining city gate. The majority of the houses in the Old Town dates from the 16th century.

Churches

The Cathedral of San Salvatore in Piazza Duomo was begun under the patronage of Roger II in 1131. The consecration of the church took place only 1267th The three-aisled basilica columns shows stylistic features of the Arab- Byzantine- Norman art. Two massive bell towers flank the facade. Inside the cathedral is equipped with ornate gold mosaics. The cathedral is connected a cloister, which is being renovated along with parts of the building of the church since 1905 due to a law cautiously and in small increments and reconstructed.

Other churches are (selection), the Chiesa del Purgatorio, the Church of S. Maria della Catena, the church of San Sebastiano and the chapel of San Biagio.

Other buildings

In Via Mandralisca that runs from the square in front of the cathedral to the west, is the Museo Mandralisca, named for a private art collector. Exhibits include the famous portrait of an unknown sailor by Antonello da Messina, Greek, Roman and Arab vases, coins and a collection of shells.

At the eastern access to the site is a wall radical. According to local information from the first settlement by 500 to 400 BC originates. The therein gate led to the former harbor.

Located near the fishing port is the Lavatoio medievale, a public washing place from the Middle Ages, probably from Arab times. It was used until the mid 20th century by the city's population. A natural watercourse is passed through several rock-hewn pool with stone washboards.

Environment

On the castle hill of the city ( Rocca di Cefalù ) traces are from prehistoric and ancient times. These include the remains of a temple of Diana from the 9th century BC, the. Chiesa di Sant'Anna, a Byzantine chapel built in the 7th century, a cistern from Arab times and castle ruins of the Norman and Hohenstaufen period

In the district of Gibilmanna in the Madonie is the Santuario di Gibilmanna, a Marian shrine from the 17th/18th. Century.

In the stables of an abandoned monastery is the Museo dell'Ordine, are exhibited in the paintings, sculptures, garments.

Sons and daughters of the town

The city is home of architect and city architect Giacomo del Duca ( 1520-1604 ).

More

• The occultist and mystic Aleister Crowley maintained in Cefalù the Abbey of Thelema, to 1923 Benito Mussolini of the country referred him.
• 1988 were filmed and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore in Cefalù parts of the internationally award-winning film Cinema Paradiso.