Messina

General Information Messina is located about ten kilometers from the northeastern extremity of Sicily, on the strait that takes its name from the city itself. It was founded by the Greeks, who gave it the name of Zancle, because of the sickle shape (zancle in Greek) of the natural harbor. Messina lived its golden period between 1400 and 1600, when it competed with Palermo for the role of capital of the island. Due to its position, the city is the gateway of Sicily, and from its port (historically very important) cruise ships of various companies pass and stop, and the city receives the visit of numerous passengers. The city, following several natural disasters - the last of which is the earthquake of December 1908 -, and also due to the numerous bombings suffered during the last world war, had a total makeover of the urban buildings. Today it looks like a new city, sometimes modern, with wide avenues and facing the sea in the northern area, from which there is a remarkable view, and a small historic center, which revolves around the cathedral, in which however, numerous testimonies of an important past from the historical point of view. The heritage is full of glories and with a great mixture of styles, from the Romanesque to the liberty, from the Arab-Norman influences to the rationalism, the dominant style of the 30’s. From here you can also go on a tour through the beauties that its suburbs offer, such as Taormina, Tindari or the Aeolian Islands, which make Messina the second province of southern Italy and the first in Sicily by number of tourists.