Cefalù — Porto Nuovo
Baia di Cefalù · Cefalu marina · Cefalù harbour
38°02.4'N 14°01.2'E
Depth
3–7m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m in 3–6m south of the marina. The harbour is well sheltered from W through NW — the dominant Maestrale direction. In NE winds (Tramontana/Gregale), the harbour entrance faces NE and some swell enters; the inner berths provide best protection.
About This Anchorage
Cefalù is approximately midway along Sicily's N coast, 40nm E of Palermo. The harbour provides good shelter primarily from the W and NW (Maestrale direction). The old town is dominated by the Norman Cathedral (Duomo di Cefalù, 1131 AD, UNESCO) — one of the finest Norman-Arab-Byzantine buildings in Sicily with extraordinary gold mosaics (Christ Pantocrator in the apse, 1148). The massive rock (La Rocca, 278m) rising directly behind the town is the citadel — the path to the top passes through medieval and prehistoric fortifications. The charming medieval street grid of Cefalù is one of Sicily's most walkable town centres.
Protected From
W · SW · S
Exposed To
N · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free to anchor. Porto Nuovo marina berths at commercial rate.
- Maximum stay
- 5 days
- Permit required
- No
- Permit details
- No AMP permit. Standard Italian maritime rules. Capitaneria di Porto Cefalù Ch 16.
Restrictions: No anchoring on Posidonia/weed in the harbour (set firmly on mud). Give the breakwater end a clear berth — rocks reported on the southern side. Speed limit 5 kn in harbour.
Hazards
- !NE exposure: Tramontana (N) and Gregale (NE) in winter/spring create uncomfortable conditions in the harbour — the breakwater provides W/NW shelter but not N/NE
- !Breakwater end rocks: Rocks have been reported on the southern side of the long breakwater end — give a 50m clearance when rounding the breakwater into the harbour
- !Weed bottom holding: The mud/weed bottom in the anchorage area requires a firm set — back down hard at 1,500 rpm for 30 seconds
- !La Rocca cliff falls: The imposing rock behind the town is subject to erosion; the path to the summit is well-maintained but the W face has restricted areas after rock falls — check with local tourist office
Skipper's Tips
- →The Norman Cathedral's gold mosaic of Christ Pantocrator (1148 AD) in the apse is one of the most powerful images in medieval art — visit at 09:00 when the morning light through the E windows illuminates the mosaics
- →La Rocca hike (1.5h round trip from the town) passes through the Byzantine/Arabic fortifications at the summit — the panoramic view of Cefalù, the harbour, and the Tyrrhenian sea is superb
- →The medieval fontana Lavatoio (public washing fountain, 14th century) in the lower town is one of Sicily's best-preserved medieval monuments — the water is fed by a spring from La Rocca
- →From Cefalù, the E Sicily coast toward Capo d'Orlando and the Aeolian approach passage is dramatic — the Nebrodi mountains fall directly to the sea
Facilities
Excellent restaurants in Cefalù's medieval centre. The seafood pasta (pasta alla Norma, pasta con le sarde) is outstanding. The Via Vittorio Emanuele has the best restaurants. Weekly market on Saturday.
Nearest provisions: Cefalù town centre (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, July, August, September, October
Best May–October. July–August peak season for the Norman Cathedral tourism but the harbour remains manageable. The N Sicily passage from Palermo to Messina (or vice versa) is best done in summer with the Maestrale on the beam — allow 2 days for the passage.
Recommended Anchor Types
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
Scirocco and Tramontana can make Sicilian anchorages untenable in hours. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — so you sleep safely.
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