Cefalù and the Aeolian Islands

There are countless reasons why visiting Sicily is a good idea: natural beauty, historical and cultural interest, food, even romance. As a regular visitor I’m no stranger to any of these. However, in this instance, I’d decided to immerse myself in the island’s charms to seek inspiration, clarity and peace from the hectic lifestyle and confusion that goes hand in hand with British living these days. During my time as a correspondent for Italia! I’d never embarked upon a trip without a focused itinerary. This time, however, my plan was literally to have no plan, other than to be spontaneous and go with the flow, see where my adventure took me and let this ancient and unpredictable land work its magic!

Following the northwest coastal route, my first stop was the medieval beach town Cefalù. The town is nestled beneath an enormous rocky promontory. The Cathedral’s twin peaks poke through the terracotta rooftops, enticing would-be visitors to stop and explore this ancient and picturesque little Sicilian town.

I checked into the hotel closest to the beach, the Riva del Sole. And without wasting any of the glorious Sicilian sunshine I went straight to the beach. I ventured into the lively beach bar the Lido Apollo. I ordered an Italian beer and got chatting to the bar staff and lifeguards. In no time at all we were getting on like old friends and I’d been invited to join them in the evening. They explained how much they loved the lifestyle in Cefalù. Toto, the lifeguard, had lived in Miami for a while but to him and his friends there was nowhere that offered the simplicity and sincere friendships that were all in Cefalù.