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Sicily ->
Cefalu' and
Castelbuono
In Cefalù, the visitor has a glimpse of the
everyday life of Sicilians. The town, once inhabited solely by
fishermen and sailors going about their daily tasks, is now
becoming a major tourist resort. Its setting is idyllic,
hugging the coast with narrow picturesque streets running down
to the harbor and beaches and the whole situated around a
gigantic rock, the Cephaloedium.
The town was originally a stronghold of the Himerians, but it
was later conquered by the Romans, Saracens and Normans, so it
has the characteristic ruins and churches which pepper so much
of Sicily.
The cathedral is one of the finest examples of Norman
architecture, begun by Roger II in 1131, with the apse and
presbytery decorated with what may be the oldest and arguably
the best-preserved mosaics of the mediaeval era in Sicily.
There are easy day trips to the Aeolian Islands and the
bargain ceramics centre of S. Stefano di Camastro with its
roadside shops is only a few miles to the east. Westward lies
Termini Imerese, an ancient spa where thermal waters can still
be drunk, and which has been restored to peace and tranquility
since the new motorway has cut it off from the main traffic
route.
Castelbuono
In the ancient times this centre was called with the Byzanthine
name of Ypsigro which means cool place. In 1316 Francesco
Ventimiglia made build a castle on the near hill St. Pietro,
where he removed the county and the old village gave the place
to Castelbuono, so-called because of the presence of the
beautiful and majestic manor.
In the monumental field besides the medieval castle with a
regular plan with two quadrangular towers, there is the Old
Matrix dedicated to SS. Assunta, consecrated in 1494 and
recently restored.
Castelbuono is a famous centre for the production of Manna,
laxative got by cutting the bark of ash trees. |
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