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Messina
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| Founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century BC, Messina
was originally called Zancle (scythe) because of the shape
of its natural harbour. In the early 5th century, Anaxilas
of Rhegium renamed it Messene in honor of
the Greek city Messene. The city was sacked in 396 BC by the
Carthaginians, then reconquered by Dionysius I of Syracuse.
At the end of the first Punic War it was a free city allied
with Rome. In Roman times Messina, then known as Messana,
had an important pharos (lighthouse). Messana was the base
of Sextus Pompeius, during his war against Octavian. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively
conquered by the Goths, followed by the Byzantine Empire in 535,
the Arabs in 842, and in 1061
by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger
Guiscard (later Count Roger I of Sicily). Messina was most likely the harbor at which the Black Death
entered Europe in the Middle Ages. The city was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake and
tsunami on the morning of December 28, 1908, killing
over 75,000 people and destroying most of the ancient architecture. In June 1955, Messina was the location of
the conference of western European foreign ministers which
led to the creation of the European Economic Community. |
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Messina, with a population of about 270,000, is the third largest city
on the island of Sicily, Italy and the capital of the province
of Messina. It is located at 38°11'24 N, 15°33'0 E,
near the North-East corner of Sicily, at the Strait of Messina.
Inhabitants of Messina in Italian are referred to as Messinesi
or poetically Peloritani.
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By
Boat
There are several hourly ferries to Villa San Giovanni on
the mainland and also several hydrofoils each day to Reggio
di Calabria.
By
Train
Messina is Sicily's link to the main Italian train network.
Long distance trains from Rome and Naples cross the Straits
of Messina by ferry and continue on to Palermo and Catania.
Regular regional trains also run to Milazzo, Cefalu, Taormina
and Syracuse.
By
Bus
Long-distance buses stop in Messina, linking Rome and Naples
to Catania and Palermo. Regular buses also run to Taormina
and Milazzo (for the Aeolian Islands).
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The 12th century Cathedral of Messina contains
the remains of Conrad, king of Germany and Sicily in the 13th
century. After the quake of 1908, the cathedral was rebuilt
in 1919/1920; after a fire in 1943 it had to be rebuilt again.
The church of the "Annunziata dei
Catalani" stands on one of the most historically important
sites of the Straits. Nearby, there was once the Byzantine
shipyard, guarded by the fortress of Castellamare. The church
was built between 1150 and 1200 on the remains of a pagan
temple dedicated to Neptune. It is an interesting example
of how various architectural styles were added to a late Byzantine
construction typical of those built by the Basilian Order
of monks.
In 1957 a 220kV-overhead powerline
was built across the Strait of Messina. At the time of its
construction, its two pylons were the highest in the world.
This powerline has since been replaced by an underwater cable,
but the pylons still remain, protected as historical monuments.
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Local
food
The typical Messina breakfast, especially
during the summer, is a glass of frozen coffee or strawberry
"granita" topped with whipped cream and
accompained by a soft brioche. At lunch, you can try "la
pasta 'ncaciata" (pasta, meat and melted
cheese with boiled eggs). Alternatively, try swordfish or in
the poorer but equally tasty version "la
ghiotta di piscistoccu", stockfish-fillets
slowly baked in a rich sauce of tomatoes, potatoes,
capers and herbs. Among the snacks: focaccia farcita
(thin pizza crust with different ingredients on top),
and arancini
di riso (deep-fried rice balls filled with meat-sauce
or butter).
Restaurants
Casa Savoia
Simple family-run establishment, reminiscent of the late 19th century, with period style
furniture typical from the Strait.
| Address:
Via XXVII Luglio 38 - 98124 Messina
Tel.:
(090) 293 48 65
Web site: www.ristorantecasasavoia.it/
(Italian)
General Information
- Traditional Sicilian cuisine
and fish
- Prices: Main courses 20€-26€
($23-$30)
- Closed on Sundays during summer;
closed on Sunday and Monday nights year-round
- Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
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Le Due Sorelle
This restaurant offers a quiet atmosphere, with
a cosy dining room, wooden tables and a very respectable wine
list.
| Address:
Piazza del Municipio 4 - I - 98122 Messina
Tel.:
(090) 447 20
General Information
- Traditional Sicilian cuisine
and fish
- Prices: Main courses 28€-40€
($34-$48)
- Closed August and at lunchtime
on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
- Credit Cards: MC, V
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Eateries
At Focacceria Famulari, a local favorite in Via Battisti Cesare 143, they sell focaccia farcita
(flat pizza-dough baked with different fillings on
the top), arancini
di riso, torte salate (savory “cake”),
fried ricotta cheese, and calzones.
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| Spring and fall are the best seasons
to visit Messina. July and August are the hottest months with
temperature up to 104F. For more information, visit the Weather page. |
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Azienda
Autonoma di Soggiorno e Turismo
Address:
Piazza Cairoli, 45 - 98100 Messina
Tel.: (090) 293 52 92
Fax:
(090) 69 47 80
Web site: www.aptmessina.it |
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This section needs your attention. Help
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| This section needs
your attention. Help it grow and email us
with content! Thanks. |
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Aeolian Islands –
The Aeolian Islands provide an outstanding record of volcanic
island-building and destruction, an ongoing volcanic phenomena.
Lipari is the largest island of the Aeolian Islands (UNESCO
World Heritage Site), off of the Northeast coast of Sicily
in the Messina province. It boasts an Archeological Museum
with a castle and an archeological park in the back. The oldest
part of the castle was built by the Greeks.
Tyndaris, founded by
Dyonisus in 396BC, was one of the latest Greek colonies in
Sicily. It was invaded by the Carthaginians led by Hannibal
in 264BC and rebuilt by the Romans ten years later. The beauty
of Tyndaris is still present in its ruins. The Greek-Roman
theater with its spectacular setting over the Tyrrhenian Sea
is used for shows and plays in the summertime.
Taormina – Taormina
is Sicily's most renowned resort. Located in the province
of Messina, it hosts a magnificent amphitheater with a breathtaking
view of Mount Etna in the background. The theater, built by
the Greeks in the 3rd century BC and remodeled by the Romans,
is still used today and hosts the famous Taormina Film Festival.
A much smaller Roman theater, the Odeon, is to be
found near the Church of Santa Caterina.
Castel
di Tusa
Capo
d'Orlando
Milazzo
Pace del Mela
Note: This
article is licensed under the GNU
Free Documentation License. It uses material from the
Wikipedia
article "Metasyntactic variable" and
Creative Commons by Commons Deed. This information was
accurate when it was posted, but can change without notice.
Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with
the businesses/establishments in question before planning
your trip.
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