Sicily's Cefalu: A Travel Wish List (4) – Chefalù
Cefalu, one of the most beautiful seaside towns in the Mediterranean, is located 70 kilometers east of Palermo. It is a place that seems very unfamiliar to Chinese people, but if you mention 'The Paradise Cinema', you might be familiar with it. This is where the scenes were filmed. Cefalu was founded by the ancient Greeks. The name is derived from the Greek language, as the eastern side of the Cefalu town district is a steep, rocky cliff. It extends into the Mediterranean Sea, forming a three-sided waterfront terrain. The whole hillside looks like a bald head. So the Greeks called it Cefalu, which means 'head' in Greek.
The history of Cefalu is long and rich. The ancient Greeks colonized it as early as 400 BC. Later, the Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Arabs, and Spanish successively ruled it. Before the unification of Italy, it belonged to the Kingdom of Sicily. In 1861, it was incorporated into Italy along with the entire Sicily.
I've visited many seaside towns, and if I had to choose my favorite, it would definitely be this one. It still retains the quaint appearance of a former fishing village. Narrow streets, colorful houses, and ancient churches. Unfading sunshine. This is why it attracted director Giuseppe Tornatore to film here.
The love between Salvador and Eleonora was born on the beach of Cefalu, as one of Giuseppe Tornatore's Three Timepieces, 'The Paradise Cinema' brought popularity and fame to Cefalu. The town did not become wealthy because of these things. It still retains its purity and quaintness.
Cefalu is really small, but if you've seen it, you'll know that Sicily's best beaches definitely deserve the title. The sand here is soft and fine. When I came, it was the off-season, and I didn't see many tourists and umbrella stands. The whole scene was very clean and without many tourists and children playing. This pristine beach is exactly what I like.
There is a wall on the northwest corner of the beach, and many people sit on it to bask in the sun, read books, drink alcohol, and chat. This is the first fantasy I have of a seaside town – I can sit here and stare at the endless sea, and all my worries are transformed into tiny grains of sand drifting away with the wind. This off-season is exactly what I like best – there are no crowds, no high prices, no shouting, and a quiet and calm atmosphere.
There is a stone gate in the northwest corner of the beach, called 'Pescatore Gate', which has existed since the 5th century. It is one of the four gates still preserved today, and it is now the only remaining one. Although it is inconspicuous, this small town has experienced the occupation of one after another, and there were some not very beautiful marks left on this beautiful island. Fortunately, one is preserved. It is extremely precious.
The beach on the other side of the beach is a vantage point – Cefalu's few attractions are one of them – Rocca Mountain. I really like the perspective of shooting from a height. You can see the entire town, one side can see the old town that has experienced the turmoil, and the other side can see the blue sea and blue sky. The view is very good, 270 degrees panoramic sea view, three-sided sea, all in sight.
It takes about 30 minutes to walk from the entrance of the mountain. It doesn't matter if you don't need to remember the entrance, you can see the signpost in the square of the town, and then follow the small road uphill for about 30 minutes to reach the entrance of the tourist area. The entrance ticket is 4 euros, which can be swiped card or cash. The area is quite large, not a very difficult hiking path, it takes about 2 hours to complete the whole journey, but it is recommended to walk slowly because there are many key buildings belonging to the archaeological park, which we can take time to watch carefully.
If it weren't for a site that can see ruins and temples, you might even think you've come to a wildlife park, because when we climbed the mountain, a group of animals suddenly appeared under the blue sky. In the hot temperature, there are dry grass and green leaves mixed together, some animals are running. It gives a sense of the African savannah. Rocca Mountain is like a castle guarding the town standing high.
The scenery along the way to the top is worth admiring. I was hesitant to come to this attraction, but I suddenly realized that it was a secret place, and the fatigue of walking was also there, but seeing such scenery, I felt it was worth it. The whole area didn't see many tourists.
As you climb higher, the road becomes narrower, and you can see one side is a cliff and the other side is an ancient wall. So this place was used to defend against foreign enemies. As you continue to climb, you will encounter a fork in the road, one side is Diana's Temple, and the other is the ruins of the city wall. The entire Rocca Mountain is only 270 meters high, but when the sun is at its peak, walking is still very tiring. There are no convenience stores on the mountain. You must bring your own water and a comfortable pair of shoes.
The castle at the top is one of the main attractions of this archaeological park, built by the Normans in the 11th century, and rebuilt in the late 13th century. In the 18th century, Cefalu no longer had wars, so the castle was gradually forgotten and abandoned, becoming a castle ruins and archaeological park attraction.
On the way down, the other side is Diana's Temple. The temple was built in the 4th-5th centuries. Now it's only a remnant wall. It's almost impossible to distinguish the complete structure. But you can still see its 2500-year-old appearance from these remaining rock wall fragments.
There are also some ruins of civilian buildings on the mountain. Because there were enemies attacking the town in the past, the people of the town would run to this place to live. After the enemies left, they would come down the mountain. So we can see some broken walls and tiles here, which should be the ruins left by residents when they sheltered here during the enemy's invasion.
The entire Rocca Mountain has countless flowers and cacti. You can come here for its beauty, or you can come here for the ruins on the mountain, or you can come here for the panoramic view of the town. Although this place is quite niche, it is really worth visiting. On the way down, you can also appreciate the 270-degree panoramic blue Mediterranean Sea ~
After descending, it was already tired. The sunset in Cefalu cannot be missed. I didn't want to go to the beach to join the crowd, so I returned to the inn and planned to admire the beauty of the setting sun in the room.
Choosing a room facing the sea is also a worthwhile happiness. Sitting in the chair on the balcony, watching the sun gradually change color and finally sink into the sea, the sky is also dyed with color. It's a wonderful thing.
Cefalu is definitely one of the places I loved most in the entire Sicily island. It is a gentle place without hustle and bustle, only laughter and smiles. I think Cefalu is the place I want to spend my life here.
