Things to do in Cefalù, from people who grew up here

The Rocca and the Temple of Diana

The Rocca is the headland that towers over the town. You climb on foot from the old town along a stepped path; at the top are the remains of the fortifications and the so-called Temple of Diana, a megalithic building. The view over the coast is worth the effort.

In summer, set off early in the morning and bring water and closed shoes: the path is in full sun.

The Mandralisca Museum

Small and precious, it holds Antonello da Messina's Portrait of an Unknown Sailor, the town's most famous work of art, along with archaeological and shell collections gathered by Baron Enrico Pirajno di Mandralisca in the 19th century.

Day trips

Castelbuono, in the Madonie mountains, has a 14th-century Ventimiglia castle and an old town where you eat very well. The Gibilmanna sanctuary, in the hills above Cefalù, is cool and scenic even in midsummer. The Madonie Park has trails for every level.

Palermo is about an hour away by train. For the Aeolian Islands, some agencies run summer boat excursions from Cefalù, while scheduled ferries and hydrofoils leave from Milazzo and, in season, from Palermo: always check times and days before you plan.