ok, if you want to lie at the beach, read a book, and lie in the sun with a lot of other people, then peruse an admittedly attractive city - filled with tourists, book a hotel in Cefalu. But if you want to experience the rugged beauty of the Parco Delle Madonie, and visit picturesque hilltop villages that have yet to be overrun by tourists, then this is the perfect starting-off place (by the way, you can still visit Cefalu - it's about 40 minutes away). Francesco and Stefania will help you with any of your questions about the area. They also serve a breakfast of homemade goodies, and if you wish, they will make you a delicious dinner - we ate with them twice during our stay, and these were our two best meals. Thanks, Francesco and Stefania.