Messina, the Gateway to Sicily

Today we are going to learn a little more about the city of Messina, which, with more than 200,000 inhabitants, is one of the largest cities in Italy. Located in the northeastern area of the island of Sicily, it is the third most important city on this archipelago, behind Palermo, the capital, and behind Catania.

Due to its proximity to the Italian Peninsula, separated by a strait of barely three kilometers, Messina has been the gateway to the island of Sicily. The great civilizations and peoples who occupied this piece of Mediterranean land throughout history first landed at the port of Messina. However, despite this historical importance, the city has never reached the development of Palermo or Catania and has fallen behind touristically.

The blame for this lies precisely in its own location, as it is situated in a zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity, with the presence of Mount Etna just a few kilometers away. Tragedies have accompanied the city throughout the last century, and it is still recovering from earthquakes and bombings which, although they are now in the past, their traces remain visible.

The most important monument in the city is its Cathedral, rebuilt just over 50 years ago following the model of the church that was erected back in the 15th century. Beaches, the port, and other leisure spots aside, the other cultural attraction of interest in the city is the Regional Museum, which preserves the historical treasures that have survived throughout such a turbulent history.

For Spaniards, Messina is the city from which the ships that took part in the famous Battle of Lepanto departed. In the city we find a square dedicated to this event with a statue of Don Juan of Austria. Many wounded soldiers recovered in this city, among them the famous writer Miguel de Cervantes.

Photo | Flickr – Sjors Provoost