Messina Italy
Country: Italy · Region: Western Mediterranean · Currency: Euro
Messina is a northeastern Sicilian port city mostly visited by cruise passengers ferrying to mainland Italy. Though modern and rebuilt after the 1908 earthquake and WWII bombing, it offers enough historical sights and panoramic views to justify a day visit.
Top sights
Duomo di Messina with its astronomical clock, Campanile del duomo, Madonna della Lettera statue, Museo regionale di Messina, Santuario della Madonna di Montalto, Pilone di Torre Faro
Things to do
- Duomo di Messina
- A 12th-century Gothic cathedral restored after 1908 earthquake and WWII bombing damage.
- Campanile del Duomo
- Features one of the world's largest astronomical clocks built in 1933, with moving metal figures and statues performing daily at noon.
- Museo regionale di Messina
- Collections include medieval art and works by Caravaggio and Antonello da Messina.
- Pilone di Torre Faro
- A 224-metre tall decommissioned electricity pylon serving as an observation tower at Sicily's northeastern tip with views over the Strait of Messina.
Beaches
- Lakes of Ganzirri and Faro
- Marine lakes at Capo Peloro in the north offering extraordinary marine landscapes and local seafood restaurants.
Where to eat
- Al Gattopardo
- Mediterranean cuisine restaurant located on Via Santa Cecilia open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
- Pizza Napoletana
- Central pizzeria on Via Cannizzaro near the port and railway station.
Bars and nightlife
- Dockers
- Bar, grill and Irish pub on Via Vittorio Emanuele open mornings and early afternoons.
Forecast for Messina
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Weather in Messina by month
Averages from 2015 to 2024, not a forecast. Within about two weeks of a date, the live forecast above is the one to trust.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57°F | 47°F | 3.5 in | 14 |
| February | 58°F | 47°F | 3.0 in | 11 |
| March | 60°F | 49°F | 4.2 in | 14 |
| April | 65°F | 53°F | 1.9 in | 8 |
| May | 71°F | 58°F | 2.2 in | 8 |
| June | 80°F | 66°F | 1.3 in | 6 |
| July | 86°F | 71°F | 0.8 in | 5 |
| August | 86°F | 73°F | 1.4 in | 7 |
| September | 80°F | 68°F | 3.0 in | 11 |
| October | 73°F | 63°F | 3.4 in | 11 |
| November | 66°F | 56°F | 4.3 in | 13 |
| December | 60°F | 50°F | 3.1 in | 13 |
Getting around
Cruise passengers can walk to most central sights from the main port; use tram or local buses (ATM) to reach the northern ferry terminal 4 km away or nearby attractions like Torre Faro.
What to eat
Al Gattopardo serves Mediterranean cuisine, and the Lakes of Ganzirri area north of the city offers excellent fish and seafood with Sicilian specialties.
Tips
Visit the Campanile's astronomical clock show at 12:00 noon daily, and take bus 79 north to Torre Faro and the Lakes of Ganzirri for panoramic views and fresh seafood.
Best for
Historical architecture, panoramic views, religious sites
More ports in Western Mediterranean
Ajaccio · Barcelona · Cadiz · Cagliari · Cannes · Cartagena (Spain) · Florence and Pisa (Livorno) · Genoa · Ibiza · La Spezia · Malaga · Marseille · Monte Carlo · Naples · Palermo · Palma de Mallorca · Rome (Civitavecchia) · Salerno · Sorrento · Toulon · Valencia · Valletta · Villefranche