Cefalu - The Stereotype of an Italian Village

Tobias Heller
28. Jan. 2017
3 Min. Lesezeit

I have been in Cefalu during my stay in Palermo several times, but always only for working purposes outside the village's center on the landslide. Before I will finally leave Palermo after 3 unforgettable weeks, this is supposed to be one of my last spots to see on the Island Sicily. Gianfranco is accompanying me for this little trip, located less than an hour away from Palermo and a precious stereotypical spot situated at the northern coast.

City & Sightseeing

The Cathedral - First Visit

Actually there are not many touristic attractions to hit from the list, as the village itself once more is the attraction itself, but our first spot to see is the cathedral - yes another cathedral, indeed I start to be slowly but gradually become to be fed up by churches. Anyways the church is in one of the main squares and we drop inside, listening to an older slightly overweight Italian man, obviously a teacher explaining the backgrounds of the church to the bunch of small children.

Beach & Harbor

The Seaside at Cefalu

Fromt the far end seaside of Cefalu you certainly have one of the best spots for overviewing the city sideways as the long tongue protrudes out several meters into the sea, therefore offering a good panoramic view with slight hills in the background and the city nestled into them. The houses are set closely the seaside, with a concrete subtraction lifting them up high in the air, preventing them from being flooded in times of rising sea level. The sky is slightly overcast, despite that the atmosphere is refreshing and welcoming, the fresh salty seaside air mingles with the characteristic subliminal scent of rotting wood and seaweed.

Sweet melancholy somehow seems to overcome me from time to time in this tranquilized place, despite my companion and several good laughs we share. The time in Sicily was longer than I would have ever expected, with staying nearly 3 weeks in Palermo, not just as a mere tourist, but participating in the daily life, living and working there as well. And overall I got to know the most amazing people, which I adore and love and have become my second family. When I started to travel I did not expect things to turn out like that, but that's exactly what makes traveling this way so unique, so different from going on vacation for several days up to some weeks, and worth living with several downsides that come and go with it. In total the advantages outweigh by far the disadvantages in my humble opinion. Others may think I am on constant vacation while staying in five star hotels every night, looking sneeringly onto my travel trip, but they are the least to understand the quintessence and values of the tour. Moreover, I assume those who tend to be the one's laughing at it the most are simultaneously the ones who wouldn't be able to stand more than a month living this life. Every time I sink into deep thoughts I refrain myself out of them, trying to enjoy the present, and the time left here.

Details & Curiosities

Italian Flair - The Tale of Biffolo Bimbolo

From Cefalu's Center streets lead slightly uphill in order to have an overview down to the coastal area with the village placed in the front. Once more I step over the most gorgeously detailed streets in Italy, stereotypical but yet beautiful. Some things are so naturally placed there, like they indeed belong there since the construction started ages ago. That is what fascinates me most about it all, the little details that have been placed apparently effortlessly and without any deeper deliberate thinking, also evolving during the times, like the intricate net of pipes along the wall of a house or the broken flower pots that seem to be lying there for ages, untouched. They need to be here, exactly on the very spot they are, they are simply supposed to be here without any obvious reason.

Cefalu turned out to be a nice last spot in Sicily to look at, rounding up the whole Sicily experience. Heavy-heartedly I have to say goodbye soon to knew-won friends, but I am sure, it is not the last time that I would see them.