Karl WP Beyer Cruise ships regularly visit the city of Messina in northeastern Sicily. Regularly organized excursions to the Etna volcano and the small Sicilian town of Taormina are offered to the passengers of the ships. Especially Taormina's picturesque old town, the ancient Teatro Greco and the Gulf of Giardini-Naxos attract countless visitors to Sicily every year.
Messina offers more than these two goals. The city is located on the Stretto di Messina, a three to eight kilometer wide strait. The passage was already known as a source of danger in ancient times. Greek mythology tells of the sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis living on both sides of the strait. Odysseus and his companions almost fell victim to them.
The Strait of Messina
Messina - spectacular location between the strait and the mountains
Back to the present: Messina lies between the sea and the mountains of Monte Peloritani and Monte Nebrodi. The approach by ship grants spectacular views of the center and the mountains towering behind it. Guests who are not attracted to Etna or Taormina can get to know the main sights of the city on a city tour through Messina. Boards in Italian and English provide detailed information about the attractions.
Important churches in Messina
We consider two churches to be important in Messina. There are the cathedral and the parish church of Santa Maria Di Montalto. A third notable church is the Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani. It is on the way from the cruise ship terminal to the cathedral. Scientists proved that the church was built on the ruins of the Roman Temple of Neptune.
Messina - Church of Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani
Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta
The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was consecrated at the end of the 12th century. Little has been preserved of the original structure; over a period of more than 800 years, the church was destroyed several times by fire and earthquake. The earthquakes in 1783 and 1908 and attacks by Allied bomber groups in June 1943 caused enormous damage to the church. As severe as the destruction was, the cathedral was constantly being rebuilt.
Messina's Cathedral - the transept
The floor plan of the cathedral corresponds to a Latin cross. The three-aisled longitudinal house is 92 meters long and 30 meters wide. The transept is almost 40 meters wide. The church reaches heights between 25 and 40 meters. The main portal was built between the 14th and 16th centuries.
The free-standing bell tower dates from 1933. It is said to have the world's largest astronomical clock. In addition to the time, it shows the position of the planets in the zodiac and the phases of the moon. At 12 noon, figures start moving in the tower. A roaring lion leads the spectacle. The cathedral's treasury is on the south side of the complex.
Location: Piazza Duomo
Parish Church of Santa Maria Di Montalto
The construction of the church on Mount Caperrina began in 1286. The church was consecrated in 1389. After the completion of the church, a nunnery was added. The severe earthquake in 1908 destroyed the building complex. Reconstruction began three years later.
In 1928 the church received two bell towers and the entrance area was moved to the Strait of Messina. From the height, church visitors enjoy a fantastic view of the strait, the city and the spacious harbor basin. Pope John Paul II also enjoyed this view in 1988. A life-size statue commemorates the visit of the former head of the church.
Location: Via Dina e Clarenza 16
Excursions & Activities Messina
Secular buildings and monuments
Messina owes its strategic importance as a commercial center of Sicily to the trade routes that have existed since time immemorial. Although more than 227.000 people live in Messina, we estimate the city center to be manageable. All of Messina's sights can be reached within a few hours.
Shrine of Christ the King
A monumental building dedicated to the fallen of both world wars, the Sacrario di Cristo Re, towers over Messina. Sacrario stands for memorial or sanctuary in Italian. The layout of the Sacrario is octagonal. There are eight bronze statues in the lower part of the building. Three recall the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. Four statues embody the main human virtues, wisdom, justice, strength and moderation. The eighth statue stands for the religion, which includes all of the virtues mentioned.
Shrine of Christ the King
Shrine of Christ the King
The memorial boasts the third largest bell in Italy. At sunset, a bell sounds to commemorate the fallen soldiers and civilians of the First World War.
The basement of the two-story memorial is adorned with a marble sarcophagus on which the figure of a soldier rests. The Sacrario was built over the site of the old Matagriffone Castle. The legend reports that Richard the Lionheart and his men chose the castle as their home on their way to the Holy Land.
Opening times: The Sacrario is open to visitors from Monday to Friday in the mornings.
Location: Viale Principe Umberto
Palazzo Zanca
Already from the cruise ship we can see the Palazzo Zanca, Messina's town hall. Construction of the neoclassical building began in 1914. The construction work was completed in 1924.
Palazzo Zanca - Messina's town hall
The representative building stands over the remains of ancient Greek walls. In one of the Pallazos' rooms there is a fresco from the last evening that was rescued from the nunnery of Santa Maria del Gesù.
Location: Via S. Camillo
Selected statues and columns
Marian column opposite the port entrance
A high votive column greets visitors at the entrance to the port of Messina. On the column stands the patroness of the city, the Madonna della Lettera (Madonna of the Letter). Legend has it that St. Paul visited Messina in AD 41 to preach there. The residents then sent a delegation to Palestine with the request that the Mother of God visit the city of Messina. Maria did not want to go to Messina, but she blessed the people of Messina in a letter in reply. The letter closed with the words: “Vos et ipsam civitatem benedicimus” (in English: We bless you and the city). Exactly these words are written on the base of the votive column.
Messina's Marian Column
Messina's Marian Column
Statua dell'Immacolata
The column of the Immaculate Conception, a white marble sculpture, stands on the north side of the cathedral. It is reminiscent of an accident during a procession. In the incident, people had an accident in a float and were miraculously unharmed.
Statua dell'Immacolata
To commemorate this miracle, the city's magistrate felt compelled to commission the sculpture.
Location: Piazza dell'Immacolata / Via Loggia di Mercanti
Don Giovanni d'Austria
The bronze sculpture of Don Giovanni d'Austria is dedicated to John of Austria. It shows the hero of the sea battle of Lepanto. Don Giovanni, son of Charles V, defeated the Turkish fleet in the legendary naval battle.
Statue of Don Giovanni d'Austria
The statue shows him in a victory pose, with one foot on the head of the defeated Turkish leader Ali Pasha. The monument was unveiled in 1573.
Location: Via Lepanto 7
Well systems
Travel descriptions mention up to five fountains in Messina that are well worth seeing. We are particularly impressed by the following three.
Fontana Falconieri
The fountain has several basins. The main pool is adorned with four monsters with the heads of a human, a dolphin, a griffin and a lion.
Messina - Fontana Falconieri
Messina - Fontana Falconieri - the griffin
Location: Via Sant'Agostino - Piazza Basicò
Fountain of Neptune
The Neptune fountain represents the sea god with the trident. Scylla and Charybdis, the sea monsters of Greek mythology, rest at its feet. The statue faces the sea to bless the sailors.
Location: Via G. Garibaldi
Fountain of Orion
The Orion Fountain is a monumental fountain system adorned with many figures. There are two bowls carried by figures above a magnificent main basin. At the top, accompanied by his hunting dog Sirius, is the hunter Orion, known from Greek mythology.
Messina's Orion Fountain
Location: Piazza Duomo
