Cruises from Messina - Sicily

Messina is located on the north-eastern tip of the Island of Sicily. It is the third largest city in Sicily with a population of around 250,000 people. Its main resources revolve around the city’s port which is home to shipyards and many commercial activities. In the Messina area expect to see lots of citrus trees as they are the city’s key source of agriculture.

The city of Messina has had its share of natural disasters. A powerful earthquake and tsunami practically destroyed the entire city in 1908. Most of the ancient structures that stood in Messina were badly damaged and had to be restored. Later in 1943 the city of Messina was subjected to air bombardments which again destroyed much of the city as well as killed thousands of its citizens.

Messina is one of the cooler cities in Sicily. Visitors can expect temperatures on average to be between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. During the colder months expect temperatures ranging from 48 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit while the warmer months can see temperatures ranging between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The rainiest months of the year fall between October and March.

When visiting Messina you will want to make sure you visit the Annunziata dei Catalani church. Built hundreds of years ago between 1150 and 1200, this church features unusual architecture both inside and out. Make sure to stand outside of the Annunziata dei Catalani and take a good look at the apse which is one of the most striking features of the church. It is believed that the area where the church stands today was originally a temple for Neptune built by the Byzantines and the Normans chose to build the Annunziata dei Catalani over top of it.

Another place that most tourists will not want to miss is the Cathedral of Messina. This cathedral was consecrated back in 1197 during the time of Roger II. The earthquake that hit Messina severely damaged the cathedral but efforts were made in the 1920s to restore the cathedral back to its original condition. Make sure you check out the campanile as it features an impressive astronomical clock you will not want to miss.

The Orto Botanico di Messina is a beautiful botanical garden that is run by The University of Messina. This is a great way to check out some of the natural aspects of Messina while getting to see a part of the city’s history. The botanical gardens were originally constructed back in 1638 but were destroyed a few decades later along with the university by the Spanish. Two hundred and fifty years later the botanical gardens were once again built only to be destroyed during the 1908 earthquake. In 1990 a third attempt was made to rebuild the gardens and that is what still stands today.

If you are looking for a place to eat while you are in Messina keep your eyes open for an authentic pizza place. You will enjoy pizza as your have never tasted it before in Messina. The birthplace of pizza is located nearby in Naples, Italy and the authentic taste of pizza cooked over a real fire in a brick oven can be enjoyed in Messina as well.