The origin of Cefalù dates to the 4th-5th century BC, when the Greek settlers of nearby Himera made it the fortified centre of control of their territory to the east.
Disputed frequently with the Carthaginians, it was then ruled by the Romans and later by the Byzantines, conquered by the Arabs and finally by the Normans.
The village preserves in its historic centre the various traces of the cultures that have passed through it.
It takes just a simple walk in the old town to realize it.
Roman road
On Corso Ruggero, for example, there is interesting archaeological evidence: the Roman Road.
It is a 6-meter-long stretch of pavement of the Hellenistic-Roman city (1st century B.C.) Can be visited on request or when the municipal architectural complex Corte delle Stelle, in which it is located, is open.
This complex is classified as one of the most representative buildings of the 20th Century.
Osterio Magno
It is located a few steps from the Roman Road. It is a fortified palace of the 12th Century, that belonged to the noble Ventimiglia.
As some historical sources testify, it could be a portion of the so-called Domus Regia of King Ruggero the Norman.
t contains archaeological evidence of the 2nd century BC. Open every day from 10AM to 1PM and from 3PM to 6 PM
Votive niches
Walking through the alleys it is frequent to come across the characteristic votive niches, small architectural structures that are an expression of popular devotion.
They are set up and adorned especially on the Celebration of Most Holy Saviour.
Noteworthy are those of Via Botta and Via Spinuzza.
Theatre "Salvatore CICERO"
Named after the musician Salvatore Cicero, born in Cefalù. It is a small jewel of Italian theatrical architecture, built in 1818 and decorated in the early Art Nouveau-style by the local artist Rosario Spagnolo.
It was the cinematographic set of "Cinema Paradiso" (directed by Giuseppe Tornatore in 1988). Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9AM to 2PM and from 3PM to 8PM (currently under renovation)
Medieval washhouse
It is a charming structure of probable Arab-Norman origin, renovated in the 16th Century. It has 22 cast iron mouths (some lion-shaped) from which the icy waters of the small Cefalino river flow, flowing between the limestone stones “a lumachella”.
The waters are pure because of karst origin.
Or, as legend has it, because they sprang from the tears of a desperate nymph after killing her beloved because he was guilty of betrayal. Open every day from 8AM to midnight.
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