Welcome to Messina, the third largest island on the island of Sicily. Founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century BCE, this lovely city has been through it all. Conquests, earthquakes, tsunamis, even the Black Plague didn't stop these people. With each event they rebuilt and restored their city and there are many wonderful examples of architectures merging to create quite a picturesque city.
Messina is located on hilly land that overlooks the port and is close enough to see the Italian mainland. Much of the population speaks Greek, but bilingual guides are always available through excursions to help your visit be more pleasant.
Due to its location and port, Messina has been sacked by the Carthaginians, reconquered by Dionysius, and the list goes on to include Romans, Goths, Normans, England, and more. Everyone wanted this location due to its close proximity to the European mainland and this popularity is why the Black Plague is assumed to have passed through the port of Messina on to Europe. It is believed that the plague was brought by Genoese ships from Caffa.
The climate is warm year round, with temps of 76 in the winter up to 110 in the summer months. This leads to lazy days and beautiful foliage. Sightseeing is one of the main attractions here for visitors. There are amazing cathedrals, numerous churches, sanctuaries, military forts, 4 wonderfully sculpted fountains and a museum that hosts paintings by Caravaggio and Antonello de Messina.
Between the colorful views, the wonderful architecture, the casual ambiance, and the friendly people, Messina is becoming more popular as time goes on. Many visitors do prefer to use excursions that help them to see exactly what they are interested in. The accommodations along with bilingual guides make sightseeing safer and more informative. Whatever you choose to do, you are sure to be happy you visited Messina, Sicily.
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