Cefalù
The History of Cefalù
The city of Cefalù, the ancient Kephalodion - Greek term meaning "Head" and refers to the natural form of the Rocca that dominates the city - has a privileged position in the territory of Palermo.
Built around an imposing stronghold that has played a defensive role in the past centuries, Cefalù is one of the 15 Sicilian municipalities of the Madonie Park, a natural and historical site that preserves interesting archaeological finds - farms, churches, mills - as evidence of the human passage on this area in the remote eras.
It is a special place where the historical past is still alive in local craft activities and ancient popular wisdom, and blends perfectly with the beauty of the natural park.
The city of Cefalù, the ancient Kephalodion - Greek term meaning "Head" and refers to the natural form of the Rocca that dominates the city - has a privileged position in the territory of Palermo.
Built around an imposing stronghold that has played a defensive role in the past centuries, Cefalù is one of the 15 Sicilian municipalities of the Madonie Park, a natural and historical site that preserves interesting archaeological finds - farms, churches, mills - as evidence of the human passage on this area in the remote eras.
It is a special place where the historical past is still alive in local craft activities and ancient popular wisdom, and blends perfectly with the beauty of the natural park.
The visitor is struck by its natural position, by the splendid Romanesque cathedral that stands among a tangle of rues, by the medieval elements scattered along the slopes, from the Rocca to Corso Ruggero, dotted with small streets and suggestive arches that bind the buildings together.
Today Cefalù has become a tourist seaside resort, equipped with all kinds of tourist facilities, able to preserve the signs of its important past, adapting its urban design to the needs of a modern city.
The origins
The origins of Cefalù are not certain but it would seem to come from an indigenous site that developed also thanks to the contacts had with the various peoples who dominated the area from the fifth century BC above.
Historical background
Cefalù boasts numerous archaeological finds such as the ruins of an ancient castle, the Cathedral, renowned for its mosaics, the Madralisca Palace that houses the homonymous museum containing extraordinary works of art.
The remains of a megalithic sanctuary, the Temple of Diana, are located on the rock overlooking the city. The temple dates back to the 9th century BC and is evidence of a human settlement since pre-Hellenic times.
Archaeologists helped reconstruct the history of the place from its distant roots, when its name was Kephalodion and was in contact with the Hellenistic centers of the island.
The origins of Cefalù are not certain but it would seem to come from an indigenous site that developed also thanks to the contacts had with the various peoples who dominated the area from the fifth century BC above.
Historical background
Cefalù boasts numerous archaeological finds such as the ruins of an ancient castle, the Cathedral, renowned for its mosaics, the Madralisca Palace that houses the homonymous museum containing extraordinary works of art.
The remains of a megalithic sanctuary, the Temple of Diana, are located on the rock overlooking the city. The temple dates back to the 9th century BC and is evidence of a human settlement since pre-Hellenic times.
Archaeologists helped reconstruct the history of the place from its distant roots, when its name was Kephalodion and was in contact with the Hellenistic centers of the island.
Few, however, have been found important archaeological finds in this area, mostly in the caves of the "doves" and "junaments" (mares) and in the basin of the dolmens of the Temple of Diana. The Temple of Diana was probably built in the 5th century BC and later restored. Its religious role is documented by the nearby ruins of Byzantine churches.
It has a megalithic structure and a polygonal shape with large blocks, various rooms and a corridor leading to the only access to the temple. Historical records report that in the year 396 BC the inhabitants of Kephalodion formed an alliance with Imilcone, a Carthaginian general. Then, when the expansion of Carthage was stopped by Dionigi the "old", Cefalù capitulated in Syracuse.
During the First Punic War in 254 BC the city was conquered by the Romans who called it Cephaloedium. Under this new domination the city had to endure a period of decline and its role reduced to "civitas decumana".
After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, a territorial retreat occurred as urban settlements steadily returned from the coast to a new urban area, located on the Rock. The finds concerning the Hellenistic-Roman period are the city walls, the Temple of Diana, the ruins of numerous streets decorated with rich sidewalks, medieval alleys, the necropolis that shows several monumental tombs ranging from the 4th to the 1st century BC. The city walls are well preserved and give Cefalù the appearance of an impregnable fortress. Their structure is completed by towers and ramparts. In particular, the remains of a tower were merged into the church of the "Madonna della Catena".
On the north side the walls are better preserved thanks to the restoration work over the centuries. Many archaeological finds have been recovered here.
After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, a territorial retreat occurred as urban settlements steadily returned from the coast to a new urban area, located on the Rock. The finds concerning the Hellenistic-Roman period are the city walls, the Temple of Diana, the ruins of numerous streets decorated with rich sidewalks, medieval alleys, the necropolis that shows several monumental tombs ranging from the 4th to the 1st century BC. The city walls are well preserved and give Cefalù the appearance of an impregnable fortress. Their structure is completed by towers and ramparts. In particular, the remains of a tower were merged into the church of the "Madonna della Catena".
On the north side the walls are better preserved thanks to the restoration work over the centuries. Many archaeological finds have been recovered here.
Originally, four doors gave access to the city and were called: Porta Terra, Arena Gate or Ossuna, Porta della Giudecca and Porta Marina. Only the latter has survived; it has a Gothic arch and offers spectacular views of the sea. The streets are renowned for their rich sidewalks. Two are particularly noteworthy: a street of the Augustan period located under the cathedral and one, paved in pebbles, dating back to the 5th century BC, also by the cathedral.
Today's urban plan is located on the main road, the Corso Ruggero, which divides the city into two areas: the medieval district, on the one hand, consisting of a labyrinth of streets and views, and, on the other, another regularly designed.
Another street is home to the aforementioned Porta Marina and the remains of a medieval wash-washer, known as 'u ciumi' (the river), which was still in use until a few years ago and whose origins are not certain. Here, going down the lava steps you enter a room with a low roof and once. Some rocky mouths on the walls slide the water into the room.
A cave under the building leads the water to the sea.
Today's urban plan is located on the main road, the Corso Ruggero, which divides the city into two areas: the medieval district, on the one hand, consisting of a labyrinth of streets and views, and, on the other, another regularly designed.
Another street is home to the aforementioned Porta Marina and the remains of a medieval wash-washer, known as 'u ciumi' (the river), which was still in use until a few years ago and whose origins are not certain. Here, going down the lava steps you enter a room with a low roof and once. Some rocky mouths on the walls slide the water into the room.
A cave under the building leads the water to the sea.
In the year 858 Cefalù was conquered by the Arabs and annexed to the emirate of Palermo. They called him Gafludi.
With the advent of the Normans in 1063, directed by Roger II, a period of prosperity and wealth began, and the city even became a bishopric. The Norman settlement is witnessed by several monuments such as the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the Osterio Magno, the probable residence of Roger II, recently restored and open as a public place.
lia, one of the most powerful in the kingdom.
With the advent of the Normans in 1063, directed by Roger II, a period of prosperity and wealth began, and the city even became a bishopric. The Norman settlement is witnessed by several monuments such as the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the Osterio Magno, the probable residence of Roger II, recently restored and open as a public place.
lia, one of the most powerful in the kingdom.
The varied architectural elements of the Osterio Magno testify to the changes and evolution of the building over the centuries.
It consists of two parts: one, older, made of golden lava stone, of the late thirteenth century, while a quadrangular tower characterizes the other side more recent. Cefalù enjoyed great economic prosperity until the second half of the twelfth century, when the civil wars broke out on the island, first between the Swavi and Anjous, then between the latter and Aragon.
During this period of contentus the city was often under the control of the Ventimiglia family.
It consists of two parts: one, older, made of golden lava stone, of the late thirteenth century, while a quadrangular tower characterizes the other side more recent. Cefalù enjoyed great economic prosperity until the second half of the twelfth century, when the civil wars broke out on the island, first between the Swavi and Anjous, then between the latter and Aragon.
During this period of contentus the city was often under the control of the Ventimiglia family.
New bloody conflicts affect Cefalù at the beginning of the 15th century, caused by the power struggle between the Vicariah White Queen of Navarre and Bernardo Cabrera, between 1410 and 1412.
From the 15th century Cefalù met a new flourishing period. In the following centuries the historical and political events of the city were closely intertwined with those of the rest of the island.
From the 15th century Cefalù met a new flourishing period. In the following centuries the historical and political events of the city were closely intertwined with those of the rest of the island.