Every summer, when I return to my parents’ home in Sicily, I make it a point to spend at least one day in Cefalù, a small village on the northern coast of the island. Originally a Greek settlement, Cefalù was later under Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Norman rule, each leaving its peculiar cultural mark on it. Over the twentieth century, then, the village transformed from a quiet fishing community into a must-see destination, famous for its charming streets and stunning seafront.

Cefalù’s most iconic landmark is its cathedral, founded in 1131 by Roger II, the first Norman King of Sicily. According to tradition, after surviving a shipwreck and landing on Cefalù’s shores, Roger vowed to build a cathedral, which he intended as his mausoleum. Although he was never buried there, the building remains a symbol of his reign. Combining Norman, Byzantine, and Islamic styles, the cathedral is a masterpiece of medieval architecture, renowned for its stunning mosaics, particularly the Christ Pantocrator in the apse.