On the coast of Sicily, where the island and mainland of Italy is separated by the Strait of Messina, the picturesque and very interesting in its originality port city of Italy Messina. Many important historical events and ancient legends are associated with these places, which have left their mark on the appearance of the city, its architecture and peculiar character. You can start exploring the island from here - even if you are an avid and sophisticated traveler, Messina in Sicily will not disappoint you in the least.
How to get to the Italian city of Messina
It will be easier, closer and faster to get to Messina by ferry from Reggio Calabria (this is, apart from that option, if you are already in Sicily). Then you have to overcome by sea only 5 km, which separate the mainland of Italy from the island. Sea routes are also open from Salerno. But in the sea on the way from Salerno will spend as much as 9 hours. It can also be reached by ferry from Lipari (Aeolian Islands) in 1.5 hours.
Messina is a port city in Italy. The easiest way to get here is by sea.
If you are in one of the major mainland cities of Italy, where there is an airport, it will be logical to cover most of the way to Messina by air, so as not to languish for many hours in a train or bus, and even with transfers. Find a suitable flight ticket here. Having landed in Catania or Palermo, you can already in about two and a half hours drive to your destination by train, bus, or by rented car.
The city has excellent railway connections with both the Sicilian and mainland Italy
But just in case, remember that Messina in Sicily has direct rail links with Milan and Rome. The sea part of the railway train is transported by ferry - also a kind of adventure! You can book a train ticket in advance at this link.
Hotels
In terms of accommodation opportunities, Messina is as accessible as most of the tourist attractions in Italy. The main offer is three- and four-star hotels, but there are also a lot of "starless" options at a much lower price, while with a decent level of comfort and service.
If you prefer to settle closer to the beach, then you need to look for a hotel on the outskirts or outside the city. There you can easily find hotels with their own well-equipped beaches. Almost all the "star" hotels of Messina are located within the city and at least hundreds of meters from the beach. Simpler hotels, apartments and B&B, on the contrary, can be very close to the sea.
What's interesting in Messina
Messina is a city in Italy that is attractive to tourists for almost everything: its location at the very junction of mainland Italy and the island of Sicily (almost close to the place of contact of two giant lithospheric plates), proximity to the active volcano Etna, rich in history, an abundance of historical sights and many ancient legends and traditions.
By the way, about legends and traditions. Any educated person had to hear the legend of two chthonic sea monsters - Scylla and Charybdis, on whose "conscience" many lives of brave sailors. Actually, Charybdis was the most dangerous, and was a huge whirlpool at Cape Pelor. It is in the area of this cape that Messina is located.
Local people repeatedly observe "miracles" in these places in our extremely rational time. Most often, the role of such a “miracle” is the “veil of Morgan” - a rare and complex optical phenomenon when the coast of mainland Italy is very clearly reflected in the waters of the Strait of Messina on a hot sunny day. The reflection manifests itself with severe distortions, due to which the imagination of the ancient inhabitants of these places gave rise to the assumption of the "otherworldly" origin of the ghostly world.
Sights of Messina
Cathedral, Cathedral Square, Clock Tower
As in almost any city in the world, the sights of Messina have their own architectural dominant. This is a cathedral built in the Norman style. It is believed that this is the most beautiful church of this level in all of Sicily. The building of the first building of 1150 survived a lot of troubles in its almost thousand-year history: a fire in the 13th century, devastating earthquakes in the 18th and 20th centuries, and even in World War II, the cathedral suffered from a direct hit by an aerial bomb.
The Cathedral of Messina was built in the middle of the XII century.
Despite all the wounds inflicted by time and the difficult history of Europe, the cathedral has remained just as magnificent and has retained its sacred significance. To this day, astronomical clocks, recognized as the largest in the world, have been preserved and are quite working. At exactly noon, one can observe how the figures of the singing rooster, the roaring lion and other bronze characters walk in a circle. Tourists have access to the bell tower, where you can see all this "procession" near.
On the clock tower of the cathedral at noon you can see a whole view
It is also worth a visit to the treasury of Messina, which is located in the south wing of the cathedral. There you can see priceless ancient artifacts preserved from the times of the deep Middle Ages. The central exhibit is a luxurious Golden robes made in the style of dazzling robes of church patriarchs. The appearance of the mantle has changed over the centuries as wealthy parishioners granted rubies, sapphires and diamonds to decorate it.
Church of Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani
Another attraction of Messina is the church of Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani. This is a very unusual church, built in the XII century. Its unique style, incorporating the best of Arab, Romanesque, Byzantine and Norman architectural traditions, acts like a magnet not only on tourists, but also on experienced art historians.
The architectural style of one of the oldest churches of Messina represents a real “vinaigrette” of elements of different cultures
Five centuries after the construction of the church itself, a monument to Don Juan of Austria, a legendary commander who defeated Turkish hordes in 1571 during the Battle of Lepanto, was erected in front of it.
Church of St. Mary of Alemann
This church in Messina is considered one of the "cleanest" examples of Gothic architecture in the whole Mediterranean. No other culture influenced her style. Actually, this is the only building in the style of the original Gothic throughout Sicily. It was built in the XIII century. at the initiative of the Teutonic Knights.
Dzanka Palace is used for meetings of local authorities
Among the sights of Messina, you can see many other examples of ancient architecture: the Church of Pompeii, the Palace of Zanca, the Fortress of Saint Salvatore at the entrance to the port, the Palace of Piacentini, the somewhat dazzling beauty of the fountains, museums with rich collections of exhibits and much more.
The fortress of San Salvatore is considered a bright landmark of Messina.
Finally, if you want to see Messina, and the whole strait, a bird's eye view, it is worth to climb to the observation deck of the Torre Faro tower. It will not be easy (1250 steps will have to be overcome on your own), but the dizzying views that open to your eyes are definitely worth the effort.
Beach holidays, entertainment
As for a beach holiday, it’s worth mentioning right away that Messina in Sicily is not the most convenient place, but, of course, not hopeless either. In the city limits there are no beaches suitable for swimming, but on its outskirts everything is already much "more fun". For example, the most popular local Mortelle beach is a 15-minute drive from the city center. Here you can also settle in one of the comfortable hotels.
The best beaches in Messina are outside the city
If you move even further, 40 km from the city, you can have a great time outdoors in Parco Avventura Dei Peloritani, take a walk along the lovely hiking trails, sit and think "about the eternal" on the shore of a picturesque lake.
In the Italian town of Messina, you can also easily find what to do: pools, saunas, fitness rooms, tennis courts, spas, night clubs, concert venues. And at the turn of July-August, Duomo Square hosts the annual traditional colorful open-air festival.
If you have time and desire, do not deny yourself the pleasure of renting a car and organizing a short one-day excursion to the surroundings and the closest iconic places: Taormina, Syracuse (the birthplace of Archimedes himself), the highest active volcano in Etna, etc.
Kitchen
Italian cuisine is world famous; there is no doubt about it. But if you already got to Messina, remember that this is still Sicily, with its completely unique gastronomic nuances.
Indeed, Sicilian cuisine is different from the “general Italian”, and you will immediately feel it in any restaurant in Messina. Trying everything is worth it: fish dishes, seafood, amazing Sicilian wines. Almost every institution will offer you its signature dish "from the chef".
The cuisine of Sicily is unique and diverse
Of course, it is worth trying the local pizza and pasta (where would Italy go without them). There are a great many pizzerias in the city for every taste and budget. Moreover, quite unexpected places such as Pizzeria del Capitano at Strada Statale 114 Km can be popular. A rather unpretentious institution in the "not glamorous" area manages to attract tourists and collect good reviews.
Cannoli - a traditional Sicilian treat
Many establishments serve homemade cannoli - crispy wafer rolls stuffed with soft cheese and syrup. You can try real sea exotic in Osteria del Campanile, for example, swordfish.
The city also has many very nice cafes and pastry shops with completely inimitable pastries and sweets.
Other interesting articles:
- 5 most popular Sicily excursions from Palermo
- Valley of the Temples in Agrigento in Sicily: history, how to get and tickets
- Sicily Inspiring Hotels: TOP 5 BlogoItaliano
- The best beaches of Sicily
- The main airports of Sicily
