Messina is the most easterly regional capital of Sicily and lies at the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas. The city was once a famous trading town at the straits and was founded by the Greeks in the 8th century B.C., then conquered by the Romans in 264 B.C., after which it experienced a history dominated by the upheaval of changing rule on account of its strategic location. Sights include: the regional museum, the Norman cathedral, Campanile bell tower with an integrated astronomical clock and the Ave Maria church.

Tips for excursions

Excursion to Etna

The programme of this excursion comprises a trip through the landscape of Sicily, along with vineyards and valleys of lava. From the vantage point of the Silvestri crater you can admire Mount Etna.

Taormina

The excursion begins with a tour of the town whose coastal location, medieval centre on the summit of a hill and unusual ruins of a Greek theatre make it very attractive to visitors.

Alcantara Gorges

The excursion begins with a trip through the town of Messina. Next item on the agenda is a visit to the Alcantara gorge, which forms a long natural corridor made of unusually formed basalt, whose walls rise up vertically or take the form of a fan.