BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO
The city of Messina is the gateway to Sicily, located on the northeastern coast of the island, and separated from mainland Italy by the Strait of Messina.
Once the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily, it is rich in history and culture with Roman, Greek, Byzantine and Arab influences.
An authentic Sicilian city, less touristy than others on the island, and not too big, making it perfect for strolling and exploring on foot. There is much to appreciate in this charming Italian city. Admire the stunning architecture, historic cathedrals, vibrant piazzas, the many statues and fountains, beaches and more.
Messina is also situated near some epic tourist attractions and the perfect base for visiting Mount Etna, an active volcano, which you can see on the horizon on a clear day, and the very popular beach resort town of Taormina. I’ll tell you more about these wonderful day trips from Messina later.
Church of Messina
Messina’s most important and oldest church is the medieval Cathedral of Messina, also called Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary of Assumption. Originally built in 1120 by the Normans. It has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries, with certain parts miraculously preserved. The main central entrance dates from the 14th century.
Bell Tower of Messina
Attached to the church is the iconic bell and clock tower with 54 moving bronze statues which memorise onlookers everyday, with the most complex mechanical astronomical clock in the world. This is the pride of the city and a huge attraction drawing people at noon for the musical show of moving parts, which represent the history and culture of the city.
You can also enter the tower and see the workings of the clock inside, and from the top you have a marvellous view of the city.
Built in 1930 and 60 metres tall, the Bell and clock tower is a highlight of Messina.
Piazza Duomo of Messina
The church and tower are located in Piazza Duomo, the main central square of the city. Here you’ll also see the grand marble Fountain of Orion built 1553.
Museum of Messina
The Regional Museum of Messina (MuMe) is the largest museum in Sicily. It holds a collection of art from local Sicilian and other Italian artists, including the famous Caravaggio, plus international artefacts – archaeological, medieval, renaissance and more.
Part of the city since 1806, the museum is a must for art lovers and a wonderful way to discover Messina.
Free entry first Sunday of the month.
Municipal Offices
The impressive Palazzo Zanca is a neoclassical and modern style building housing the municipal offices of Messina. Named after the architect, it was built 1924.
Art exhibits are on display inside the building, about the history of the city.
Church of Christ the King
Situated atop the hill, the Church of Christ the King (Cristo Re) is of baroque octagonal style and is a monument to fallen soldiers of both world wars.
Beautiful views of Messina and the sea on offer from this vantage point.
Palace of Justice
The building housing the courthouse of Messina is actually called Palazzo Piacentini, named after the architect. Built 1927 in Sicilian Doric style and also partly resembles the Brandenburg Gate of Germany with a great quadriga of horses on top.
You can enter and wander around the lovely building.
Church of Carmine
This unique church has been named a sanctuary, recognised as an important religious monument, hence its full name of Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Carmine. Built in 1930 of Baroque and Neo-Classical architectural styles, it has a bell tower, a convent, and most interestingly, 7 chapels inside!
University of Messina
The imposing University building is centrally located in the city and is a blend of historical and modern architecture. The University was founded in 1548.
Church of Saint Catherine
A Neoclassical style church called Church of Saint Catherine of Valverde opened in 1932, built on the site of previous churches since the Middle Ages, which were destroyed by natural disasters and wars.
Coast of Messina
The coastline of the city of Messina extends more than 30km, with a large natural harbour. You can often see the coast of Calabria on the mainland.
Port
If you arrive at the Port of Messina by boat, ferry or cruise ship, you’ll immediately see the stunning statue of the golden Madonna della Lettera, who watches over the city and is much loved by the locals. It stands atop the ancient Fort San Salvatore built 1546.
Take a walk along the seafront promenade and watch the boats and ships, and see the fishermen. Enjoy the views at sunset.
Beaches & Swimming
There are plenty of beaches all along the coastline of Messina for you to enjoy, such as Lido La Spiaggetta and Lido Vengo Anch’io. You’ll find bars and restaurants by the beach.
If you are a competent swimmer the maritime authorities supervise a crossing event for people to swim from Sicily to Calabria across the Strait of Messina during Summer.
City
The city is easily walkable from the Port across the main road, Via Vittorio Emanuele II. It can be covered in half a day or so.
Other Sites
Other interesting sites to explore as you walk around the city of Messina,
- Theatre of Messina
- Fountain of Neptune
- Statue of Messina
- Monument of Queen Elena
- Villa Giuseppe Mazzini public park
- Scalinata d’Arte Stairs
Day Trip to Milazzo Castle
Take a day trip from Messina to see the Castello di Milazzo which is actually a fortified town, not just a castle, perched above the town on the hill, with views of the sea.
Originally built by the Normans in 4,000 BCE, preserved and modified over the years and used as a prison in the 1800’s. This is the biggest castle in Sicily and is open to the public.
Also on the castle grounds is the Ancient Cathedral of Milazzo.
You can take a train, bus or car to Milazzo, about 30 minutes away from Messina.
Day Trip to Mount Etna
Embark on an exciting day trip from Messina to experience Mount Etna, an active volcano, the highest point in Sicily and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Thrill seekers love to climb the mountain, hike the trails to the summit and take in the views around the world’s most active stratovolcano. If you are so inclined, I strongly recommend taking a tour with experienced authorised guides.
Located 79km from Messina, volcano enthusiasts and hikers will love visiting Mt Etna. There is also a cablecar there, biking, 4×4 rides, and even skiing in Winter.
Day Trip to Taormina
Visit the beautiful seaside resort town of Taormina from Messina on a day trip. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Sicily, with archaeological ruins to explore, a picturesque town and beaches.
The ancient Greco-Roman amphitheatre is the most famous site to see in Taormina. Take a stroll through the old town, enjoy visiting churches, piazzas, shops and cafes. A cable car ride makes it easy to get from the town, down to the beach. The best beaches to visit in Taormina are Lido Playa Sole Luna, Lido La Dolce Vita, and Lido Capocabana.
Taormina can be reached by train, bus or car and is about 50km away from Messina.
Castelmola
Just above the city of Taormina, is a small medieval village, Castelmola, with breathtaking views of the sea, the city and Mt Etna. You can reach the town by bus or car. Alternatively, you can walk up the hill with steps, if you’re in good shape.
Check out ruins of an old castle up here, piazza, shops and enjoy the scenery from this high vantage point.
Finally
Messina is quite a lovely city to spend a day exploring and makes the perfect base for excursions to nearby sites in Sicily. A popular port stop for cruise ships in the Mediterranean, it enjoys a pleasant sunny climate for most of the year and very hot in Summer with temperatures over 30 degrees celsius.
Getting to Messina
There is currently no bridge from Italy’s mainland, however plans for a bridge to be built are ongoing which would be the longest suspension bridge in the world at 3.2km, from the city of Messina across the Strait of Messina to the town of Villa San Giovanni in Reggio Calabria.
FERRY / BOAT
The island of Sicily is connected to the mainland by ferry, which is about a 20 minute ride (available all year round) from Messina’s port. You can drive a car onto the ferry. Alternatively, you can take a boat trip.
TRAIN
If you prefer taking the train, guess what? You can take a train onboard a ferry, across the Strait of Messina. This is the only functioning passenger train ferry that still exists in Europe and is quite an experience.
AIRPORTS
There are 2 major international airports in Sicily, but the nearest to Messina is actually Reggio Calabria Airport on the mainland of Italy, just 16km away by speedboat. Alternatively, Catania Airport in Sicily is about 90km away from Messina.
Enjoy your trip.
Ciao.
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12 Comments
Such beautiful sights to choose from. This is overwhelming. I can’t wait to book my next vacay!
My great-great-grandfather was from Sicily, but I do not remember much of what he said. It does look like a very historical place and one well worth a visit.
I am definitely adding this destination to my travel bucket list! There seems to be no shortage of things to do and see. Lovely, lovely photos!
On our first cruise we had a stop in Messina and had a lovely time there. Although looking at this list there’s a lot we didn’t get time to discover x
Wow, Italy is such a beautiful and interesting place to visit. I love the picturesque buildings and wonderful culture!
I have been in love with Sicily for decades, but I’ve never been able to get there. Messina would be my first stop!
I’ve been to Italy but never made it to Sicily. Such a beautiful country that is worth exploring over and over again. I can’t wait to visit Messina.
Wow. There is some wonderful architecture in Messina. As a fan of photography this is definitely somewhere I would like to explore.
To be honest, I am not so familiar with this place. But, looks like so many beautiful places to visit there.
We loved Sicily so much. But we were staying on the other side of the island and did not get to Messina. But our love affair with Sicily is not over, I know we will be back. So I’m saving this post for when that happens.
We haven’t made it to Messina in our previous visits to Sicily. We’ve talked about going back to visit the Aeolian Islands, so could combine our Messina visit with this.
Lovely photos! I am amazed how each photo tells a story.