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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. …
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Date of experience: July 2020
132 Helpful votes2 Saves6 Reposts
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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.…
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Date of experience: October 2020
6 Helpful votes
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How about doing your laundry here. Just think what it would have been like. It just takes 10 mins to see we’ll worthwhile say after visiting the cathedral
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Date of experience: September 2020
1 Helpful vote
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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 …
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Date of experience: February 2020
2 Helpful votes
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Pass through some gates on Via Vittorio Emanuele and go down a curved staircase to visit this medieval wash-house which was restored in the 1990s. Under the covered vault, you can find cast iron mouths spouting water into troughs and through the middle runs the River Cefalino. You can imagine the local women coming here to wash their clothing in years gone by - it must have been a very noisy and busy place. It can get crowded with tour groups but just wait for a few minutes and they disappear and you can enjoy looking around in peace. Also nice in the evening when it is lit up. It will only take 10 minutes or so to look around but well worth a visit. Nice and cool down there too so it makes a nice break when it's hot.…
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Date of experience: September 2019
1 Helpful vote
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