Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
BOAT
SMIV
(Società Marittima Italiana Veloce;
www.smiv.it
)
runs daily boat trips between Cefalù and the
Aeolian Islands, from May to September. Their 8am boat serves Lipari and Vulcano (one
way/return €30/60), returning to Cefalù at 6.45pm. A second boat serves Panarea and
Stromboli (one way/return €40/80), leaving at 11am and returning to Cefalù around
11.45pm. Rates include free pick up at any Cefalù hotel. Tickets are available at
Turismez
Viaggi
(
092 142 12 64;
www.turismezviaggi.it
; Corso Ruggero 83)
next door to the tourist office.
TRAIN
The best way of getting to and from Cefalù is by rail. Hourly trains go to Palermo (from
€5.15, 45 minutes to 1¼ hours) and virtually every other town on the coast.
WORTH A TRIP
CEFALÙ'S BACKYARD PLAYGROUND
Due south of Cefalù, the 40,000-hectare
Parco Naturale Regionale delle Madonie
incorporates some of Sicily's
highest peaks, including the imposing Pizzo Carbonara (1979m). The park's wild, wooded slopes are home to
wolves, wildcats, eagles and the near-extinct ancient Nebrodi fir trees that have survived since the last ice age.
Ideal for hiking, cycling and horse trekking, the park is also home to several handsome mountain towns, includ-
ing
Castelbuono
,
Petralia Soprana
and
Petralia Sottana
.
The region's distinctive rural cuisine includes roasted lamb and goat, cheeses, grilled mushrooms and aromatic
pasta with
sugo
(meat sauce). A great place to sample these specialities is
Nangalarruni
(
092 167 14 28;
www.hostarianangalarruni.it
; Via delle Confraternite 10; fixed menus €23-32;
12.30-3pm & 7-10pm, closed
Wed in winter) in Castelbuono.
For park information, contact the Ente Parco delle Madonie in Cefalù (
Click here
) or
Petralia Sottana
(
092 168 40 11; Corso Paolo Agliata 16;
8am-2pm & 3-7pm Mon-Fri, 3-7pm Sat, 10.30am-1pm & 4.30-7pm
Sun).
Bus service to the park's main towns is limited; to fully appreciate the Madonie, you're better off hiring a car
for a couple of days.
