Just a few kilometres from Palermo is Cefalù, a wonderful town that is home to one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy.
In fact, its cathedral is one of nine monuments that testify to the fusion of Western, Byzantine and Islamic culture during the reign of the Normans in the 12th century.
The Cathedral of Cefalù is freely visible, but to get to know it better and admire it from different points of view, a full visit to the Towers of the Cathedral is recommended. It is set on the main square, almost at the end of the town; arriving there, you will be struck by the beauty of its façade and its two mighty quadrangular towers, positioned on both sides of the cathedral, which give the building the typical figure of a fortress.
The building was commissioned by King Ruggero II in 1131 and changes were made to the original design over the centuries. The history of its construction is very long, just think that the staircase was only built in 1851. As you enter, you will discover something wonderful such as: the mosaics made during the reign of Ruggero II and Guglielmo I by Byzantine masters who specialised in such works of art, and the Christ Pantocratore, which can only be admired very closely on a guided tour. This portrayal of Christ is found in the Cathedral of Monreale and in the Cappella Palatina inside the Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo, two other UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
On the North Tower, traces of other mosaics can be seen, and when you get to the top, there is a beautiful view of the Sicilian village.
On the South Tower, on the other hand, one can walk along a walkway on the roofs of the south aisle that leads to a panoramic terrace over the Rocca.
Descending from the roofs of the cathedral, we find the Sagrestia and the Tesoro, i.e., sacred vestments and liturgical equipment, as well as the Reliquary of the Cross that holds the Sacred Wood.
Finally, we find the Chiostro Canonicale (Canons’ Cloister) in which one can admire the original south and west aisles with elegant pointed arches resting on small columns and historiated twin capitals.
Various itineraries are available:
- Red: this is the most complete one and allows you to visit all parts of Cefalù Cathedral so you have a 360° view.
This itinerary lasts about 50 minutes and the ticket costs €10. - Blue: includes the Towers, Roofs and Mosaics at a lower cost of €7.
- Green: includes the Sagrestia, the Tesoro, the Salone Sansoni, the Cappella Vescovile and the Chiostro Canonicale; the ticket in this case costs only €6.
The Cathedral is open from November to March from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and during the other months from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information, please visit: www.duomocefalu.it, where you can buy tickets online.
