Cefalù

Cefalù is a gorgeous seaside town about 70 km east of Palermo (the capital of Sicily).  It is nestled under “The Rock” which is lit up at night (see Extra Photos), along with the Cefalù Cathedral.  The Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built between 1131 and 1240, in part as a display of rivalry and independence of the Roman Catholic power base in Palermo [Source].

The Cathedral has a distinctly African-Moorish style, as much a fortress as a place of worship the ramparts in towers.  Sorry, I couldn’t resist adding an ICM where I have tried to capture the upward thrust and summoning to the heavens evoked by these towering churches of Europe. As an agnostic without much experience of Church beyond enforced attendance when an inmate at boarding school, I am probably missing most of the significance and richness appreciated by believers.  But I do appreciate them as cool oases of calm and wonderment along the tourist trails.