On the northern coast, 75 kilometers east of Palermo, from which it is about forty-five minutes by car, a bit longer on an express train, Cefalù (with the accent on the last syllable) is a medieval town built on the site of an ancient Sicanian and Greek settlement. In fact, its name derives from the Greek word for a cape; the ancient city was called Cephaloedion. Except for a few archeological items in the local museum, all that remains of these ancient cultures today is a small structure (the Temple of Diana) on the mountain overlooking the town. This simple enclosure is said to be one of the oldest structures still standing in Sicily. Though the fortress itself crumbled long ago, the battlements atop the mountain were built during the Norman rule of the island in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. A few segments of this outer wall are restorations; most are original. For the stout hearted, the summit, with its magnificent view of the town, cathedral, mountains and sea, is well worth the climb. (Only Taormina's seaside view rivals this coastal vista.) Viewed at night from the coast to the west, the illuminated mountain and cathedral make for an inspiring site, evoking much of the city's medieval grandeur.


Cefalù Cathedral

Himeria
The town of Termini Imerese, whose population numbers about 26,000, is located on Sicily's North Coast in the province of Palermo, roughly mid-way between Cefalù and the Sicilian capital. Termini, as it is usually referred to, is about 38 kilometers east of Palermo or about 25 minutes by train or car. The town is divided into two parts: Termini Bassa (Lower Termini) and Termini Alta (Upper Termini). Almost all of the town's historical attractions are located in Termini Alta, since that area effectively comprises the town's old historic center. Lower Termini is where the railway-bus station and the hotels are located.
The ruins of ancient Himera (Imera), famous for the remains of the Temple of Victory, are located in a coastal plain at the mouth of the Imera River about 14 kilometers east of Termini off of State Road 113 (SS113), in the district called Buonfornello. The history of ancient Termini Imerese is really the history of Himera. Though the ruins of this coastal city are not as "complete" as those of Solunto, the ancient Roman city near Bagheria, Himera is worth a visit if you're a serious fan of ancient Greek cities and temples. Himera's Doric temple is interesting, though it is less spectacular than the temples of Segesta and Agrigento. In fact, it is little more than a foundation, with no standing columns. There are also the remains of two other temples in the same archeological park. Like Caccamo.
Caccamo is about 14 kilometers south of Termini Imerese, up a winding mountain road. The town has a certain charm, and vestiges of the Middle Ages. Its greatest attraction is Caccamo Castle, a large 12th-century fortress in a spectacular location overlooking the scenic San Leonardo River Valley far below. This was a feudal castle built by a Norman enfeoffed knight during the twelfth century, probably upon an older Saracen fortress, and modified slightly in the successive centuries. With its splendid towers and battlements, the gray stone structure retains most of its medieval appearance. It is presently undergoing an extensive restoration. The castle is set upon a steep cliff, and in that respect and others is similar to Mussomelli Castle, though much larger. While you're in Caccamo, visit the Church of Saint George near the castle.
Though reconstructed during the sixteenth century, it has some interesting relics of its medieval past (it was built in 1090), such as an old baptismal font. It also has a collection of ecclesiastical vestments. The Annunciation (Annunziata) Church is also medieval, though extensively modified. If you're driving, a brief visit to Caccamo can easily be scheduled as a stop on the way from Palermo to Cefalù. If your taste runs to the medieval, you won't be disappointed. An arched bridge dating from the Middle Ages spans the San Leonardo River, but since 1994 it has been submerged by a man-made lake formed by a dam.