The Rocca di Cefalù (Rock of Cefalù) is a spectacular 268-metre-high cliff from whose shape the town took its name. Part of the Rocca’s perimeter is characterised by crenellated walls dating back to the Middle Ages and completed in the 15th century. At the top are the remains of a mediaeval castle dating back to the 12th-14th centuries, which is why the Rocca is also called ‘u castieddu’ in dialect. Close to them are the remains of the Temple of Diana, a megalithic monument, probably intended for the worship of pagan deities.
The fortress is linked to the myth of Daphnis who, after swearing allegiance to a nymph, was seduced while drunk and for this reason blinded. Daphnis then decided to kill himself by throwing himself off the Rock of Cefalù. According to another version, Zeus then turned him into the Rock to save him.
Guided tours
The Rocca di Cefalù can be visited. It starts from Corso Ruggero and passes through Via Saraceni, proceeding until you reach the footpath to the Rocca. The path is largely exposed to the sun, so it is not recommended to walk it during the hottest hours of summer days.
Access hours: from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. From November to March, it can instead be visited every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
