We will stay 2 days/3 nights in Cefalu. Then we will rent a car and drive to Agrigento. We would like to see the cathedral in Monreale. Should we take a day trip there (train/taxi) from Cefalu, or stop in Monreale on the way to Agrigento? Any experience driving/parking in Monreale? Bags would be in car, so would need secure parking. Or would the Norman cathedral in Cefalu be enough?
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
I have never driven there so can’t say for sure. All I can say is that whichever way you choose to go - don’t skip it!! It was the highlight of the trip for us.
Will you be spending any time in Palermo? If so, that’s the easiest way to visit Monreale. The city bus goes frequently, or if you prefer, taxis are cheap because it’s so close. People treat Monreale like a day trip from Palermo when it’s less than 30 minutes away and really fits easily into Palermo sightseeing. Of course, if you aren’t going to Palermo, this is not helpful.
Posted by
Ashburn VA
767 posts
We were in Sicily two weeks ago. First, if you’ll be in Palermo at all, making the day trip via a one-hour bus ride to Monreale is easy and super cheap (2 euros). (BTW, if you haven’t been to Sicily, don’t skip Palermo. It’s a dirty, congested city, but well worth the effort,). The road from Palermo is narrow, twisty and clogged with traffic. I have no idea what a taxi would cost, or how much time it would take, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be quick. Driving and parking in Monreale is like every small town in Sicily: nuts. We didn’t see any parking at all at the cathedral, let alone secure parking.
I’m not sure how to get from Cefalù to Monreale, since that was never our plan, but a train/taxi option sounds way better than driving. We spent 3 days in Cefalù just wandering around, going to the beach, and eating and enjoyed it very much. The cathedral in Cefalù is pleasant enough, but in no way equivalent to Monreale. Wherever you are, I’d find a way to get there.
Posted by
Washington DC
27217 posts
Monreale is arguably the #1 sight in Sicily. Do not skip it.
I think the best plan depends on how you intend to use your time while in Cefalu and Agrigento. Is this your first trip to Sicily? If so, you are very, very short on time in Palermo/Cefalu. Palermo is a multiple-day destination as far as I'm concerned, and you're going to spend considerable time traveling back and forth from Cefalu to Palermo (1-1/2 to 2 hours, round-trip), presumably twice. Then Monreale is beyond Palermo. Getting there will be simpler if you do it by car, I believe, but I can't give you any parking advice.
What do you plan for Agrigento? Will you have night there with a visit to the ruins on the day you arrive? Will diverting to Monreale in transit leave you enough time to see Agrigento? I have not been there (classical ruins bore me), so I have no idea how much time you'll need in Agrigento. Based on my interests, I'd definitely combine Monreale with the drive to Agrigento in order to maximize my time in Palermo.
Posted by
Portland
3607 posts
Just in case you aren’t already convinced, I’ll add my voice to the chorus recommending Monreale. The mosaics there are just magnificent. And don’t skip the cloister. As I recall, each pillar is different from the others.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6615 posts
The cathedral in Cefalù is similar to Monreale’s but smaller. If you have a GPS device, save the public parking lots in Monreale into it to save time. There are a few of them, but unless you’ve checked them out beforehand, they might be hard to find. We stayed at B&B Elvira al Duomo in Monreale so parking wasn’t an issue. There was a public lot near it at Via Florio, 9, 90046 Monreal, just down the hill from the cathedral. If going to Agrigento after Cefalù, Monreale is going out of your way. As suggested, visit it from Palermo if possible.
On our trip, we went from Monreale to Cefalù and traffic was heavy on the SS186 heading towards Palermo and then again on the E90. Once out of Palermo traffic was bad at all.