Discovering Cefalù
Hello and welcome to our first travel blog! Before we dive into the details, let me introduce myself. My name is Jarrett, and I grew up in Upstate NY, in a town outside of Syracuse. My wife, Meredith, and I recently got married, and I was tasked with planning the best honeymoon possible. We decided to go to Italy but wanted to avoid the typical tourist hotspots. Instead, we aimed to immerse ourselves in local culture. Our journey began with a week-long road trip on the central and eastern sides of Sicily, one of the most beautiful places I've visited, rich in culture, history, and delicious food.
Upon landing in Palermo, we picked up our rental car through Europcar and hit the road. Renting a car allowed us to make the most of our time on the island, as Sicily isn’t known for its public transport. For those planning to rent a car, I recommend booking ahead of time for the best deal. If you're from the United States, you'll need an international driver's permit to drive in Italy. I got mine at my local AAA branch for about $40, which included a passport photo. Our rental car for this journey was a Fiat 500x Hybrid, perfect for navigating the island's narrow roads.
We quickly realized we were hungry and stopped in Mondello, just outside of Palermo, for a bite to eat and to check out our first beach. We found a charming pizza truck, Apizzastreet, right next to the beach. We ordered a pizza with buffalo mozzarella and cured ham, accompanied by a Fanta. This pizza was one of the best of the trip, possibly because it was our first meal off the plane, but it was fantastic. After cooling off in the picturesque blue waters of Mondello, we hit the road again.
Our next stop was to check in at our hotel for the next two nights, Hotel Vallegrande, nestled in the serene hills overlooking Cefalù. The hotel exudes rustic charm with modern comforts, and the views are breathtaking. You can book the hotel for yourself on Booking.com
With a few hours of daylight left, we set out to get acquainted with the town of Cefalù. This quaint town, with its narrow cobbled streets and vibrant local life, instantly captivated us. As we walked around, we stopped into some shops and wandered down the main roads while waiting for dinner. For dinner, we chose Taverna Tinchite, where we had a four-course meal. The food was good and reasonably priced, though not the best we had in Cefalù. After dinner, we enjoyed a cannoli from a place on one of the main roads named Cannoli and took a stroll along the beach. The cannoli was one of the best we had on the trip, and we would definitely have more! We then drove back up to the hotel to recharge for our full day of exploring the town.
The next morning, we woke up and had a fantastic breakfast at the resort. We then headed down towards the town to immerse ourselves in the beauty of Cefalù. We started with a visit to the Lavatoio Medievale Fiume Cefalino, an old laundry house from 1514, tucked away just off the main road. The highlight of the town is the magnificent Cefalù Cathedral, a stunning example of Norman architecture.
Next, we hiked up Rocca di Cefalù, a towering rock that offers panoramic views of the town and the sea. The hike up was rewarding, and the ancient ruins at the top added a touch of history to the experience. The hike did cost money as it is ticketed but well worth it to see the panoramic views of the sea and the town. More rewarding than the hike was a refreshing granita afterward. We stopped at Amorelli Graniteria, next to Chiesa di Santo Stefano, where we enjoyed almond and chocolate raspberry granitas on the steps of the church. Highly recommended!
Throughout the day, we sampled plenty of street food, including multiple arancinis and various baked goods, all worth trying. As evening approached, we found ourselves back at the beach, taking a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The day ended with a delicious dinner at Locanda del Marinaio, where we indulged in traditional Sicilian cuisine under the stars. We were recommended this place multiple times by locals and other travelers, so we made reservations and enjoyed plenty of seafood and pasta with a bottle of Etna wine. After dinner, we headed to Squagghio, a gelateria where we each had a scoop of gelato – the second-best of the whole trip. We also picked up another cannoli on the way back to the car from Cannoli.
We retired for the night at Hotel Vallegrande, reflecting on a day well spent. The tranquil surroundings of the hotel provided the perfect setting for a restful sleep, preparing us for the adventures that await.
