Messina

Your travel guide for Messina

Picturesque Messina in the north-east of Sicily attracts visitors with a fantastic view across the sea to Calabria, idyllic beaches, historic buildings and excellent restaurants serving local specialties.

The famous Strait of Messina separates the town from the Italian mainland. It is a strait between the Calabrian peninsula and the island of Sicily and connects the Tyrrhenian Sea with the Ionian Sea. The strait is 32 kilometers long in total.

At its narrowest point, only 3 kilometers separate Sicily from the mainland. It is worth traveling across the Strait of Messina just for this magnificent view. But the old port city has much more to offer its guests: a magnificent cathedral, an old astronomical clock and enchanting marble fountains.

The climate in the small coastal town is also extremely pleasant. Visitors can still feel the old charm and unique atmosphere of Sicily, especially in the cathedral square. The Piazza del Duomo with the cathedral forms the religious and cultural heart of the city.

Messina Cathedral was built in the 12th century. Due to signs of decay, it was extensively reconstructed in 1943. Next to the cathedral is the beautiful Orion Fountain with numerous sculptures and the gigantic bell tower with the largest mechanical clock in the world. Every day at 12 noon, the clock begins an interesting spectacle. It lasts 10 minutes and extends over several floors of the tower.

Acoustic elements such as lion roars are also included in the spectacle. There are numerous old cafés and some very good restaurants around the square. The harbor, where the ferries from Italy dock, is only a few minutes' walk away and definitely worth a look.

The ferry ride across the Strait of Messina takes only 20 minutes, the ships sail day and night and carry numerous vacationers every day. As the crossing offers wonderful views of the sea and the harbors, it is definitely worth taking a ferry trip. From the ship, travelers can admire the imposing domed church of the Sacrario Cristo Re on the harbour promenade particularly well.

To the north of the Sacrario Cristo Re are the Chiesa di San Francesco all'Immacolata, Villa Mazini and the Neptune Fountain. The pretty city park with green spaces, well-tended flowerbeds and white sculptures begins at the Neptune Fountain.

The Forte del Santissimo Salvatore fortress towers opposite. The Sicilians once monitored the harbor entrance from the fortress. The cannons can still be seen.