medical care You will receive emergency medical attention |
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for free at Cefalů's hospital (Tel.:0921-920111). In cases of emergency, please contact the reception immediately and they will call a doctor for you. As a rule, you have to pay for medical examination in cash. Please ask your doctor for a detailled invoice so that you have the possibility to get reimbursed by your health insurance upon your return home. Please inform the hotel and your tour operator of any current medical conditions that may require special attention, you will receive all possible advice and help on this matter. We usually recommend that you consider traveler's health insurance that is valid for foreign travel, it usually can be obtained very inexpensively. |
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You will find several in Cefalů, they are located at Corso Ruggero, in Via Roma and in Via Vazzana. |
public transport You can reach Palermo, |
| Tindari, Milazzo and Messina from Cefalů by train or bus very easily. If you like to explore the surrounding area, like the nature park of Madonie for example, you will find a number of bus connections available. Our reception has the most important bus and train connections available on request. |
stamps Stamps are called "francobolli" in Italian. |
| You can purchase stamps at the post office or the tabacchi. The biggest post office in town is located in Via Vazzana and opened Mondays through Saturday from 08:00 to 16:00. Usually, you can leave your mail with us - we will be happy to take care of it for you. |
banks Banks |
here are open Monday through Friday from 08:30 till 13:00. Please note that you should bring your passport if you have bank business to do that requires the assistance of a counter clerk. Some banks switch off their online-connection in the evening in order to keep expenses low, therefore you might not be able to use the cash dispenser (ATM/automatic teller machine) at this tiem. |
carabinieri The police station |
| is in Via S. Barbara (Tel.: 0921-421412 or emergency call 112). In Palermo in Via Vittorio Emanuele II (Tel.: 091-261111 and emergency call 112). |
business hours Usually |
| shops are open daily from 09:00 to 13:00 and again from 17:00 through 20:00. Different rules apply on Sundays and public holidays when you will find most shops closed. (On the other hand, this rule does not apply in high season!) In tourist centres like Cefalů most shops remain open during the lunch-time. |
embassies: ROME British Consulate |
| via XX Settembre 80a 00187 ROMA RM tel: (0039) 06 4220 0001 Out of office hours (only in emergency): (0039) 06 4220 2603 e-mail: Visa information: VisaEnquiries@rome.mail.fco.gov.uk Consularinformation:ConsularEnquiries@rome.mail.fco.gov.ukPassportinformation:RomePassportEnquiries@fco.gov.uk General information: romeinfo@fco.gov.uk fax: (0039) 06 4220 2334 Peter Jones, Consul CATANIA British Consulate Via Verdi 53 95100 CATANIA CT tel: (0039) 095 7151864 fax: (0039) 095 7151503 Open to the public: Monday to Friday: 16:30 - 19:30 Richard Brown, Honorary Consul E-mail: consular@omnilog.com PALERMO British Consulate Via Cavour 121 90133 PALERMO PA tel: (0039) 091 326412 fax: (0039) 091 584240 Open to the public:Tuesday to Thursday: 10:00 - 12:00 Luigi Tagliavia, Honorary Consul |
cafčs and bars No institution in all of Europe can be compared to an Italian bar or Caffč. |
| Italians are in love with their barsfor different reasons: First, when they actually have no time to have a coffee but they have one nevertheless: A rush in, a quick coffee, perhaps a bite of something sweet, and off they go. Second, a bar is an ideal spot for when they have time on theirhands. They can sit outside in the sunshine, where they will have an extensive chat with their friends and a Caffč. If the weather isreally nice, they might indulge in a "Granita", a sorbet typical for this region. Last, but not least, there is peculiarity about Italian bars and Caffčs: Everything you consume while standing at the bar (al banco) ist less expensive than while you are seated. Extra services cost extra euros. |
food & beverages Good news for all fans of Italian, or here, Sicilian cuisine! |
| You will find plenty of opportunities to wine and dine in all kinds of Italian styles: our personal favourites: La Brace in the old part of Cefalů. A restaurant under Dutch management, is highly recommended! If you enjoy a really delicious pizza (prepared in an oven fired by wood, that's the real deal!) you might like to visit Baglio del Falco, La Tavernetta located at the new harbour, Il Saraceno and last, not least, Lo Scoglio Ubriaco in the old part of town. The three latter not only have excellent cusine, they have spacious terraces where you can enjoy the sights and sounds of summer! If you like to combine excellent dining with a little trip of the countryside: In Castelbuono, very close to the main piazza nestled right in the middle of the old part of town is the award winning restaurant Nangalarruni, widely known for its oustanding mushroom dishes. In San Ambrogio, only a few miles away from downtown Cefalů, you will find the Italian Ristorante La Tana della Volpe and if you want to have a finishing highlight after your tour through Madonie nature park, we highly recommend the former Jesuit cloister in Polizzi Generosa (Contrada Donna Laura). Nowadays, Donna Lavia is an agro-tourism location which offers an excellent cuisine and the possibility to purchase organic farming products as well. If you have a sweet tooth, you will find heaven waiting for you here in Sicily. A seemingly endless variety of delicious cakes and pastries are available 24/7. If you want to "take a walk on the cold side", the local ice-cream can be extremely enticing, too. Here are tree of our favorites located very close to the Hotel Kalura are: bar Al Solito Posto, located on the street above the new harbor and Antica Gelateria di Noto, in the old part of town at the beginning of the promenade (lungomare), where you can enjoy your ice-cream on the terrace overlooking the ocean. Try one of their specialities: soy ice-cream! Or you combine the pleasure of outstanding dolcis with excellent ice-cream at Dolce et Delizia, Via Matteotti 20 right in the historic town-centre. Connoisseurs of wine will be delighted to discover the wonderful, dry Sicilian wines. Highly renowned names like Donnafugata, Cusumano und Planeta are growing their internationally acclaimed products here. Very close to Cefalů, on the way to Castelbuono, you will find a junction with a sign hinting at the wine-growing estate Abbazia Santa Anastasia, whose wines are becoming increasingly popular. There, you can enjoy excellent wine-tastings. Furthermore, you can taste and purchase wines in almost all of Cefalů's restaurants. Our recommendation: Try some wine grown at Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano! |
Hairdressers Men and women use different types of hair stylists in Italy. |
| While ladies make an appointment at the Parrucchiere, gentlemen go to see the Barbiere without any appointment. On request, the Barbiere will be happy to take care of men's beards as well. The opening hours correspond to the normal business hours of shops. You will find a large variety of different salons for men and women in Cefalů that range from posh to inexpensive and from conservative to hip. |
Golf Linguaglossa is located about 25 km south of Taormina and offers an 18-hole golf course. |
| Campofelice, only 10 km away from Cefalů, scheduled for completion in summer 2004, also provides 18 beautiful holes in a panoramic setting. |
Sales slips Please save all receipts |
| and sales slips (scontrino) that you receive when you do some shopping, visit a bar or dine in a restaurant. |
The Italian police |
| for financial affairs are permitted to ask you for these receipts at any time (although it is quite rare), if you are unable to present these, you might have to pay a fine. |
Crime Despite |
| all of the stereotypes, Sicily's crime rate (including its major cities!) is generally lower than most other places in Europe. Just be aware that careless behavior invites trouble everywhere, especially to pickpockets! You can feel extremely safe in Cefalů, it is highly unlikely that you will encounter any kind of crime here. Even at night a lady is safe having a stroll by herself after dinner through the alleys of town.Please do take extra care in bigger cities or markets,however, as pickpockets and theft of handbags can occur here. Our advice: Leave your gold Rolex watch or your precious necklace behind in our hotel safe. |
Market Cefalů's market takes place at the promenade (lungomare) during the winter months |
| In high season, during the summer months, the location changes to a spot above the railway station. You will find that a lot of town folks use this opportunity to find good value shopping and thus giving you the opportunity to experience a true Italian market here. |
Police: Cefalů: |
| Via Stanislao telefone: 0921-421729 Palermo: Piazza Vittorio telefone: 091-6518388 |
post office: Cefalů: Via Vazzana, Palermo: Via Ausonia |
Electricity |
| The voltage here is 220. Please pay attention to the directions in your rooms (if available). You may require an adapter for the sockets. You will be able to purchase these in supermarkets or in electronic specialty shops. If you are unsure, please consult the reception desk, they might be able to help you. |
Taxi You will find Cefalů's main taxi stand at the railway station. |
| The taxis do not have a meter, but the prices have been fixed by the association. You will pay 6 Euro for a ride from the station to the Hotel Kalura, a transfer to Catania airport is 220 Euro and to Palermo airport it is 100 Euro. PLEASE NOTE: You will not be able to put your luggage in storage at the railway stations of Cefalů or Trabia or at Catania or Palermo airports. |
Telephone |
| The dialing codes for Great Britain is 0044, for Ireland 00353, for the U.S. 001, for Germany 0049, for Switzerland 0041, for Austria 0043. After dialing the proper country code, you dial the area code of the requested city without O and then the desired number. You use coins for public telephones as well as phone cards. You can buy these cards called „Scheda Telefonica“ at tabacchis, they generally have three different price categories. PLEASE NOTE: Many of these cards have a perforated corner on the right side that you MUST break off before you are able to use it! |
Tips "Mancia“ is the term for tip here in Italy. |
| It is a vital part of tourism and service and is certainly welcome everywhere, sometimes even essential. In a hotel, you tip the headwaiter and room service. Most hotels have a central place for tips which are divided among the staff, but you cannot rely on that. You should give about a 10 % tip when you dine in a restaurant. |
Hiking In spring and autumn, and if the weather is nice, even in winter, |
| Sicily is a gorgeous place for hiking, as is Cefalů. We will be happy to suggest walks and hikes around the town, or all over the island, according to your desired lengths, degree of difficulty, public transportation connections etc. |
Articles of value Please put your cash, credit cards, passports, jewelry and travel documents in the hotel safe. |
| You will find that this service is free of charge in most hotels. |
Newspapers and magazines You will find English speaking newspapers |
| and magazines in lots of stores in Cefalů especially on Corso Ruggero or on Via G. Matteotti and at the railway station. Outside of the main summer season the variety of papers and magazines found might be a bit diminished. |
Dentist Cefalů: Dr. Giovanni Battaglia |
| Via Cavour 38, Telephone: 921-922104. Palermo: Dr. Curione Salvatore, Via Vincenzo di Marco 8, Telephone: 091-300430". |
(November 2004)