Lavatoio Medievale
Lavatoio Medievale
4
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Lavatoio Medievale
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
200 within 5 kms
Attractions
61 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,186 reviews
Excellent
440
Very good
546
Average
177
Poor
17
Terrible
6
Blue J
Havre de Grace, MD765 contributions
Jul 2021
The feel for this incredible bit of medieval life stands in stark contrast to the party town that is Cefalu. A few steps down from street level will transform you to the those by gone days when laundry was truly a chore. The water is is ice cold and clear. It was so refreshing to dip our hands into the many pools on the hot July day that we visited.
The place is hard to photograph and becomes very crowded during the day. If you want the best experience, arrive early before the majority of tourists show up to spoil your favorite photo op. Definitely worth a visit.
If you love history, this is an easy side stop while visiting the historic parts of Cefalu. Make sure you find and read the sign here that speaks to the merits of the underground river that sources the location.
The place is hard to photograph and becomes very crowded during the day. If you want the best experience, arrive early before the majority of tourists show up to spoil your favorite photo op. Definitely worth a visit.
If you love history, this is an easy side stop while visiting the historic parts of Cefalu. Make sure you find and read the sign here that speaks to the merits of the underground river that sources the location.
Written August 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ANGELO V
Milan, Italy4,742 contributions
Nov 2022
The original medieval wash place was demolished in 1514, and rebuilt in the actual position. Restoration works of the wash place were completed in 1991.
A stairway in lava stone and lumachella leads to a pavement smoothed by time and to a series of tanks which are filled with the waters flowing from twenty-two cast iron spouts. It's a cool corner of peace, quite beautiful.
A stairway in lava stone and lumachella leads to a pavement smoothed by time and to a series of tanks which are filled with the waters flowing from twenty-two cast iron spouts. It's a cool corner of peace, quite beautiful.
Written December 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charles_and_Susan
Nottingham, UK7,410 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Look out for the sign on the wall if you're looking for it, it's easy missed down some steps off the street. It is interesting to see how the washing places were set out and how you'd kneel to wash you're clothes against a rubbing stone.
Worth seeking out for a visit on your way down to the beach from the main street of Cefalu
Worth seeking out for a visit on your way down to the beach from the main street of Cefalu
Written October 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jazzumbo
Romania2,190 contributions
Oct 2020
Interesting and challenging site. Came downstairs under the street, trying to figure out how it was to wash the laundry about 500 years ago.
The place was sheltered under the stairs, so I guess it was not so bad during hot summer days.
However, I believe it was a nightmare to wash laundry during the winter time. The river's water was probably very cold and those women handling their laundry with bare hands were suffering a lot.
I guess that the rich families used to pay some poor women to do the job. I'm thinking about those laundry women, washing laundry all day long for a living. And carpets, and curtains. They were most probably ended up with arthrosis of finger joints, due to the cold water.
The place was sheltered under the stairs, so I guess it was not so bad during hot summer days.
However, I believe it was a nightmare to wash laundry during the winter time. The river's water was probably very cold and those women handling their laundry with bare hands were suffering a lot.
I guess that the rich families used to pay some poor women to do the job. I'm thinking about those laundry women, washing laundry all day long for a living. And carpets, and curtains. They were most probably ended up with arthrosis of finger joints, due to the cold water.
Written October 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seeking True Quality
Europe4,803 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
During our walking tour, we had to descend some twenty steps to visit this medieval washhouse. This interesting structure with iron mouths, basins and tubs was rebuilt in 1514 as a public washinghouse. It was restored as a tourist attraction in 1991.
Written April 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jen
Brisbane, Australia77 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
In Cefalù, there is a medieval wash-house located just a few meters below street level, nestled between narrow streets. Visitors can access the wash-house through a wide staircase made of lava and lumachella stone with a slight spiraling pattern. This public wash-house was used by women in 1890 to do laundry using special tubs to rub the clothes. It's free to visit and provides insight into the lives of women in Cefalu during that time.
No more than 5 minutes is needed to visit here.
No more than 5 minutes is needed to visit here.
Written October 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jackie C
Peterborough, UK467 contributions
Feb 2020
We stumbled upon these by accident but if you are in Cefalù and you are walking through the town you will be bound to see them too. There are some signs visible. There is no entrance fee. Amazing condition and extremely interesting. Thank goodness for my automatic washing machine
Written April 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul Legate
United Kingdom21,891 contributions
Jul 2020 • Solo
Along Via Vittorio Emanuele is an entrance that leads to a set of stone steps which cascade down to the Lavatoio Medievale. The medieval wash house was built over the River Cefalino and was used until relatively recent times, it was completely restored in 1991. The original was closer to the sea but was demolished in 1514. Lavatoio Medievale is an incredible sight and I was glad that I discovered the place when I was in Cefalù in July 2020.
Written November 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Danubegal
Tutrakhan, Silistra, Bulgaria141 contributions
Jan 2018 • Solo
I am extremely pleased than many visitors find little of interest here, because it meant they went away fast, leaving me alone with the sound of trickling water and a fine place to spend almost an hour in thought. The setting and architecture is remarkable, and it is a great place for photos from many angles. Despite its origins as an early laundrette, for me it had a deeply spiritual feel, like a koi pool. If you want some peace after a day of heavy walking, don't just run down the steps for a quick glance and run out again. Have a careful look and imagine the chatter of women washing the family's clothes - it probably took them most of a day beating them out on the stones. A splendid hour spent, but only if you can be alone. I hate it when people make noise in such places.
Written January 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Billy H
57 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Those people who find it a little hard to find will be those who are either those who are not observant or don't bother to research before the go on holiday. Just off the main narrow walkway/driveway through the old town is the old washing facility using the water that comes down from La Rocca. like mainly places it's atmosphere changes with the direction of the sun, and when lit at night. There are but a handful of historic singular things to view in Cefalu, and it is a shame to miss them.
Written October 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
È possibile parcheggiare l'auto nelle vicinanze?
Written April 16, 2017
Il lavatoio è all'interno del centro storico che è un'isola pedonale.
Si può parcheggiare sul lungomare (strisce blu) o parcheggi adiacenti sempre a pagamento...10 minuti di percorrenza a piedi...
Written July 12, 2017
Hola , estoy de paso en Cefalu, y me gustaría ver el Lavatorio Medievale. Alguien sabe que horario tiene en abril??
Written April 3, 2016
No tiene horario ,caminando por la calle principal a la derecha es un resto de la antigua ciudad y el agua que viene de la montana es limpida y cristalina en ese lugar la gente del pueblo lababa su ropa
Written April 4, 2016
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing