Messina lies on the northernmost tip of the Ionian coast, just a short distance from mainland Italy. An important port and gateway to Sicily, it faced natural disasters and bombing during the Second World War, which destroyed many of its monuments; most of the current ones are therefore either reconstructed copies or were built from scratch immediately after the war.

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Messina may not be one of Sicily’s best-known destinations, but it is certainly worth a visit. 

Sights and attractions

The most significant monument is the magnificent Norman-style cathedral, which was completely destroyed by an earthquake and the war and renovated after 1945. Its 60-metre bell tower boasts one of the largest astronomical clocks in the world, which easily surpasses even the one in Prague.

The historic centre is adorned by several other churches dating back to the 13th century, though these were completely rebuilt following the earthquake of 1908. The harbour is guarded by a golden statue of the Madonna della Lettera, the city’s patron saint.

Set off on hiking trips into the mountains

The town lies at the foot of hills some 600 metres high, covered in dense pine forests criss-crossed by numerous signposted walking trails. Here and there, the hills are dotted with meadows featuring a small village or a chapel, and every few hundred metres there are views of the Mediterranean Sea. The whole area isn’t overrun with tourists, so you can enjoy the divine tranquillity of the countryside here.

• Map of hiking trails (marked in red) around Messina

You can reach the best starting point for the hiking trails at Colle San Rizzo by taking bus number 70.

Accommodation

Messina is the ideal destination if you want to experience a genuine Sicilian town without the crowds of tourists and set off on walks through nature where you’ll be on your own. Stay here for 1–2 days. 

In Messina, you’ll mainly find apartments and small private guesthouses with prices ranging from 41 eur to 62 eur. Traditional hotels are available at prices around 103 eur .

• Hotels and accommodation in Messina

Transport

Messina is connected to the rest of Sicily by trains and buses and is Sicily’s most important port, with numerous ferries to the mainland serving the towns of Villa San Giovanni and Reggio di Calabria.

Take a look at which operators run services from Messina to the main destinations:

• Catania –SAIS Autolineebuses,Trenitalia trains, prices around 8,50 eur
• Palermo –SAIS Autolineebuses,Trenitalia trains, price around 14 eur

Ferries toVilla San Giovanni and Reggio di Calabria are operatedhourlybyBlujetlines, a subsidiary of the Italian railways. A ticket to Villa San Giovanni costs 2,50 eur, whilst a ticket to Reggio costs 3,50 eur.

Public transport in Messina consists of one tram line and around 20 bus routes. A single ticket costs 1,20 eur; timetables and further details can be found on the ATM Messina website.

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