27/07/07 We have just returned from a weeks holiday in Cefalu, staying at Villa Palamara. The location is incredible with fantastic sea views one side and the beautiful hills on the other. We stayed in a villa that slept 6, be warned there is no air conditioning but there are fans, so can get a bit warm at night. The villa is a converted convent and absolutely gorgeous. The villa grounds are surrounded by sicilian lemon trees, figs, vines and various other fruits. We went with our children (ages 7 -14) they enjoyed the infinity pool immensley. (15x30m) The facilities are very basic, breakfast and an evening meal can be taken in the restaurant but 24 hours notice is required. There is no bar, shops or activities on site (just pool and restaurant). Car hire is essential and the drive leading to the villa takes a bit of getting used to! (very tight and twisting track) The owners and staff at the villa are lovely and helpful and car hire can be arranged through there own car rental company at very reasonable prices. Transfer from Palermo to the villa is about an hour. The villa is about a 5 minute drive from Cefalu which has beautiful medieval streets. The beach is within walking distance of the villa (about 10 mins) but no footpath. The beach is mainly large pebbles with sandy patches there is a shop on the beach selling drinks, ice-creams etc. Overall fantastic scenery and villa very nice but would be better with air conditioning.

A gorgeous castle like hotel, about 2-3 miles east of Cefalu.
Difficult to find. We were not able to find any directions on any web site. To help others: exit a highway in Cefalu. there are two roads to pass the city. One is through the city itself, another is a bypass, but there are no direct signs for the second one. Just use the main road and stay on ss113 (if I remember correctly). After passing the city, watch for the kilometers signs. The drive way to the hotel is about 200-300 meters pass 181 kilometer sign, driving east. It is a very steep curve and the hotel's sign is not on the road, but in above on the drive way. It is a renovated middle age house, which looks like a castle. The apartments are huge, everything works, hot water, heating (we were in November). Did not have a contact with staff, just a letter from them. We were alone in a castle! Highly recommended.