Cefalù, Sicily: The Sicilian Village That Stole My Heart

If I ever win the lottery, I already know where I’m retiring: Cefalù, Sicily.

There are places you visit because they are famous, places you visit because someone recommends them, and then there are places that somehow find their way into your heart when you aren't expecting it.

For me, that place was Cefalù.

Palermo to Cefalù: One of My Favorite Days in Sicily

Cefalù was one of those places that I didn't know much about before I arrived, but somehow left a lasting impression on me.

When our cruise ship docked in Palermo, Sicily, we met our guide at the port and headed along the coast toward the fishing village of Cefalù. The drive took about an hour, but it turned out to be one of those journeys where the scenery was every bit as memorable as the destination.

As we left Palermo behind, the landscape began to change. The busy city gave way to a much more relaxed and beautiful stretch of Sicily, with the deep blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea beside us and hills and mountains rising in the distance.

I remember looking out the window and thinking, This is Italy.

A Tornado in Sicily: One Unexpected Vacation Memor

Most people hear tornado sirens and run for cover. I hear them and grab my camera as I make a mad dash for the door. My heart starts pounding as I scan the horizon, hoping to catch sight of that unmistakable, swirling mass of clouds. With camera in hand, I watch and wait—only to be disappointed time after time.

My "UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN " Moment in Sicily

I have watched Under the Tuscan Sun more times than I probably care to admit. It has always been one of those movies that I can return to whenever I need a little escape.

There is something about the story that has always stayed with me. Frances leaves behind a life that no longer feels like her own, travels to Italy, unexpectedly falls in love with an old villa, and begins restoring not only the house, but herself.

I think that's what has always drawn me to the movie. It's not really the villa or even Italy. It's the idea that sometimes we dream about walking away from the life we know and finding a place where we can begin again.

CATHEDRAL ~ BASILLICA OF CEFALU

The Cathedral-Basilica of Cefalù, is a Roman Catholic church in Cefalu, Sicily, Italy.  The Duomo dates back to the Norman era and contains some of the best preserved mosaics in all of Sicily.The building of the cathedral was begun by Roger II, the first king of Sicily, in 1131. He commissioned the artists to make the mosaics which it is so famous for and it is believed that his plan was for the entire nave to be covered in mosaics, similar to his Cappella Palatina in Palermo. However, Roger II died before the work was finished and the cathedral wasn’t completed until later.

The facade of the cathedral has two rows of blind arcades and two large bell towers that are slightly different from each other. The nave has arches supported by marble columns that are believed to be from the Temple of Diana whose ruins are up on La Rocca. The wooden ceiling has painted beams and the stained glass windows are more modern in appearance.