Hi! We’ll take you through a weekend in Messina today. Whether you were already wondering about the city or you’re only now learning about its existence, we’ll show the best tourist attractions it has to offer. Join us for a tour of the city without memory!
Messina
What to see in Messina?
Messina has been called ‘the city without memory’. Why? Because the majority of Messina was destroyed in the great earthquake in the Strait of Messina in 1908. What little remained was demolished and the city was effectively built anew. There’s close to no buildings in Messina which remember more than a century, hence why it’s a city without many memories. This is also why the layout of the city may be unlike other Sicilian towns.
Thankfully, all the main attractions of Messina are within a walk’s distance, right in the centre. You can get to Messina itself by train from Catania, Palermo and Lamezia Terme. There’s also the option to take a ferry from Reggio di Calabria and Villa San Giovanni.
1 day itinerary in Messina
What to see in one day in Messina?
If you only have one day spare for Messina, then this is how we’d approach it. Piazza Duomo and the Messina Cathedral are a must-see, so we’d start with that. This is also where you can find the clock tower with the biggest astronomical clock in the world. We’d also recommend going up one of the hills surrounding Messina to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Another must-see is the Church of the Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani, one of the very few buildings which have survived the earthquake. And if you want to have some delicious Sicilian pastries or ice cream to top the day off, we recommend visiting Pasticceria Gelateria Ragusa Eventi near the Cathedral and Santissima Annunziata on the via Garibaldi.
Messina Cathedral
The Duomo in Messina
The Messina Cathedral is easily one of the best attractions of the city. It was consecrated by Archbishop Berardo in 1197, built likely about a hundred years earlier by the Normans, but that scarcely matters. Very little of it survived the earthquake. Though the church was rebuilt in much the same manner as it was before, it was then bombed during WW2, in 1943, with much of its roof and the interior destroyed in the process. The only surviving original pieces are one mosaic and a statue.
The cathedral has three traditional naves divided by colonnades. It stands right next to Messina’s next interesting attraction, the largest astronomical clock in the world.
Campanile del Duomo con Orologio Astronomico
Messina astronomical clock
This is likely the best part of Messina and certainly one of the best ones in Italy too. The clock tower isn’t just a simple overgrown alarm clock. Instead, there’s a carousel on each floor with a mechanism that changes the displayed scene based on both the time of day and the date.
- The base carousel moves based on the day of the week: there is a classical deity representing each day, like Apollo for Sunday, Mercury for Wednesday, etc.
- There’s then a carousel for the stages of life which moves every 15 minutes: a child turns into a young man, then a warrior, then a senior, while the skeletal Death dances with its scythe
- Next is a dove which rises from the ground at midday as part of the Sanctuary of the Madonna section
- Then a section for the biblical scenes which changes every quarter of the liturgical year
- There’s also a level for Madonna of the Letter, whose statue receives a letter from an angel with St Paul and the ambassadors bowing their heads
- Dina and Clarenza, legendary defenders of Messina in the Sicilian Vespers, ring the quarter hour bells
- At the very top, there’s a lion waving a flag of Messina at midday and roaring three times
Apart from just these levels, there’s also a planetarium on the side and a perpetual calendar. Hopefully we don’t have to convince you any further.
Chiesa Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani
A temple in Messina
This is one of the few buildings which survived the earthquake without major damage. It was built in the 12th century, on the site of an old Greek temple. The church is a great showpiece of Sicilian Norman architecture with a blend of other cultures, like Byzantine and Arabic. One theory was it was originally an Islamic temple which was then converted into a Chrisitan one.
Stele della Madonna della Lettera
Statue of Mary in Messina
This is a 60 metre (200 feet) tall monument of Saint Mary. If you’re travelling to Messina by ferry, it is she who greets you. The inscription on it reads:
“VOS ET IPSAM CIVITATEM BENEDICIMUS”
…which translates to “We Bless You and Your City.”
Sacrario di Cristo Re
Sanctuary of Christ the King in Messina
This beautiful shrine is also an excellent vantage point for the whole of Messina (as well as Sicily and Calabria). The Sanctuary of Christ the King was built in 1937 on a hill near the centre of Messina, on the remains of the Matagrifone Castle. The temple was built in Baroque style – it’s octagonal in shape with a large dome. At the base of the shrine stands one of the towers left over from the castle. An ideal place for a walk in Messina.
Santuario Parrocchia S.Maria Di Montalto
Church of Messina
What else to see in Messina? If you don’t have the energy to walk up the Sanctuary of Christ the King, you can try the nearby Sanctuary on Caprina Hill. The shrine was originally built in 1286 and was one of the first large temples rebuilt in Messina in 1928. You get some beautiful views of Messina and Calabria from the square in front of the sanctuary.
Fountain of Neptune
A monument in Messina
The Neptune Fountain is one of Messina’s most important and most beloved sites. It was originally built in 1557, with figures of Scylla and Charybdis around Neptune. You’ll find the Marina Messina and the Villa Mazzini next to the square, the Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele III
An attraction of Messina
You are probably familiar with the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan – Messina also has its own gallery. It is located in Piazza Antonello and was built in 1929 per the design of Camillo Puglisi Allegra. Inside, you will find three sections filled with cafes, shops and offices. It’s a good waypoint between the Cathedral and the Neptune Fountain.
Strait of Messina
Via a gosh-darn train
This last point on our list is not so much a place as it is an attraction – the opportunity to go though the Strait of Messina by train. Or, more specifically, by a train ferry. This is a ferry which literally loads the train onto itself and you can just have the train transported onto the other side. It’s weird, it’s wacky and it’s quite rare, so give it a shot if that sounds like fun to you.
Where to stay in Messina?
Accommodation in Messina
Messina has many interesting places to stay, though we wouldn’t recommend the city centre and the area near the harbour, as the traffic can be very tiring. We do, however, recommend the part of the boulevards north of the Neptune Fountain and the hills above Messina itself. You can take a look at the most popular accommodation choices in Messina here.
Map of attractions in Messina
What to see in Messina?
1) Messina Cathedral
2) Campanile del Duomo con Orologio Astronomico
3) Santuario Parrocchia S.Maria Di Montalto
4) Sacrario di Cristo Re
5) Chiesa Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani
6) Stele della Madonna della Lettera
7) Neptune Fountain
8) Galleria Vittorio Emanuele III
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