Until the sixteenth century, Cefalù’s megalithic walls were one of the town’s main defences: a mighty ring of large stone blocks, built to protect the settlement and control access. Besides their military function, these walls also helped shelter the inner areas from the strong winds that blow along the coast, in particular the east, west and northwest winds.

The town was entered through four arched gates, true strategic openings linking the urban centre with the outside: Porta Terra, Porta Ossuna, Porta Giudecca and Porta Pescara, also known as Porta Marina.

Of these, Porta Marina, facing directly onto the sea, is the only gate to survive to this day and is one of the most evocative symbols of historic Cefalù, a point of passage between the old town and the seafront.