Messina is in the northeast corner of Sicily, Italy. It is known as the door of Sicily. Situated only 5 km across the Strait of Messina to the region of Calabria on the mainland, Messina has served as the gateway for the busy traffic between Sicily and the mainland over the centuries. With its seaport shaped like a sickle, Messina has always been a trading city.

38°11′7″N 15°33′39″E

Map of Messina

There are at least hourly ferries to Villa San Giovanni on the mainland and also several hydrofoils each day to Reggio di Calabria.

Some days, visitors arrive by cruise ships... most frequently in the summer season. Ships often berth right along side of downtown within an easy walk to the popular Piazza del Duomo, dominated by the Cathedral and clock tower (pictured below), which is served by many tour buses and a hop-on/hop-off double-decked bus offering a modest overview of the waterfront portion of the city.

Messina is Sicily's link to the main Italian train network. Long distance trains from Rome and Naples cross the Straits of Messina by ferry and continue on to Palermo and Catania. Regular regional trains also run to Milazzo, Cefalu, Taormina and Syracuse.

• 38.18534115.5609641 Messina Centrale, Piazza della Repubblica. (updated Feb 2017)

Long-distance buses stop in Messina, linking Rome and Naples to Catania and Palermo. Regular buses also run to Taormina and Milazzo (for the Aeolian Islands).

For visitor information and a map, go to Azienda Autonoma per L'Incremento Turistico, Via Calabria 301 (tel. 090-674236), near Piazza della Repubblica and Stazione Centrale. Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 1:30pm.

The transportation hub of Messina is at the Piazza della Repubblica, in front of Stazione Centrale. Most of the major ATM (Azienda Trasporti di Messina) Bus lines converge on this piazza. The most useful route is Bus 79 (ISTITUTO MARINO), which stops at the Duomo, the Museo Regionale, and out to Torre Faro.

In addition to a bus system, Messina has a relatively new (2003) light rail system, Tranvia di Messina, that connects the city's Stazione Centrale with the city centre and waterfront. The light rail line is 7.7 kilometres (4.8 mi) long, linking Gazzi to the south with Annunziata to the north.

• 38.19223915.555311 Duomo di Messina (Basilica Cattedrale metropolitana di Santa Maria Assunta). A Gothic style cathedral which dates back to the 12th century. The Cathedral suffered serious damage in the 1908 earthquake and was restored between 1919 and 1920. During the Second World War, Allied bombings destroyed part of the Cathedral, which was rebuilt in 1943. It is consecrated to The “ Virgin of the Letter”, The Patronnes of the Town. (updated Feb 2017)
• Cathedral Tower has one of the largest astronomical clocks in the world, built in 1933 by the Ungerer Company of Strasbourg. A must-see for visitors with an amazing clock show, including symbolical and allegorical moving metal animals and statues, every day at 12:00 (noon)!
• Fountain of Orion - carved by Montorsoli (1547), student of Michelangelo, in the Piazza del Duomo next to the Cathedral. Orion, with his dog Sirius, is portrayed as one of the legendary founders of Messina.
• Sanctuary of the Madonna of Montalto - a building made in an eclectic style with Gothic and Romanesque elements, located high above the Piazza del Duomo. From its lookout point, with a statue of the Pope admiring the view, you can enjoy a panorama of the Messina harbour and the Strait of Messina.
• Cristo Re (Christ the King) - a majestic domed memorial chapel, located on a hilltop north of the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Montalto. also with a beautiful panoramic view of the harbour and strait. Built in 1937, it serves as a burial chamber in honour of some fellow citizens who died in Africa as soldiers in the Second World War.
• Madonna della Lettera is a towering gold statue, atop of the tall Forte San Salvatore tower at the tip of the sickle in the sickle-shaped harbour. The inscription "We bless you and your City" is taken from a letter from Mary in 42 AD.
• Old Town
• Lakes of Ganzirri and Faro, at the Capo Peloro Lighthouse area north of the city, in the north-eastern tip of Sicily. You can reach the two lakes by taking bus number 79 from ATM bus terminal (Parcheggio Cavallotti) close to the train station. At the lakes, the extraordinary marine landscapes are an awe-inspiring sight. It is also the site for the northern tower of the planned, twice-approved and twice-cancelled, Strait of Messina bridge (which locals hope will never be built) and the decommissioned Pylon of Torre Faro (see below). Moreover, the lakes are the right place to have very good fish, seafood, and many other Sicilian specialties .
• Novara di Sicilia - Located in the province of Messina on the northern side of Mt. Etna, this picturesque medieval town is nestled in the mountains overlooking ancient Tyndaris and Abacaenum. It is the archetype of a typical medieval town, with its friendly and accommodating people who speak a distinctive dialect.

• Visit Pylon of Torre Faro, one of two decommissioned electricity pylons across Messina Strait. It is a 224 metres tall steel lattice tower, which is today an observation tower with an observation platform 200 metres high. Unfortunately you have to walk 1250 steps up and down, but the great view on the huge structure and the good view over Messina Strait is surely worth it! [1] And while you're in Torre Faro, might as well visit the nearby active Capo Peloro lighthouse.
• Walk around the city of Messina! It's a nice town with lots of old architecture. Climb up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Montalto and Cristo Re to get beautiful panoramic views of the Messina harbour and the Strait of Messina (e.g., see title banner above).

• Coin Shopping Centre

The best pizza in town is Pizza Capitano just off Piazza Cairoli. The owner is a little gruff however the wood oven gives an authentic Sicilian flavor. Its also excellent value and is always busy especially during Series A football matches when the atmosphere reaches fever pitch.

• Al Gattopardo, Via Santa Cecilia, 184, ☏ +39 090 673076. 

• Bacco, Via Cernaia, 15, ☏ +39 0090 771420. 

• Momento Ristorante, Via Mario Giurba 29, ☏ +39 090 6409781. 

For visitors there for just a day, look for family pastry store that offer cannoli... a genuine Sicilian treat.

For a taste of Irish authenticity drop into Dockers near the cruise mooring area.

• Acqualadroni.it. Flats with different sizes all provided with kitchen fridge and washing machine for a simple but good stay, they are located in the north part of the city. 

• La Residenza. Charming, elegant, four stars hotel in the centre. 

• Hotel il Mulino, Via A. Doria, 46, Capo D'Orlando, Ph. +39 0941 902431 Fax +39 0941 911614 [2] ^{[dead link]}. Among the hotels in Capo d'Orlando, the Hotel Il Mulino boasts a privileged position: overlooking the sea on the beautiful sandy beach in the centre. The hotel is about 200 meters from the pedestrian area and about 300 meters from the train station.

• Liberty Hotel, Via I Settembre, 15, Tel.: +39 090 6409436, Fax: +39 090 6409340 [3]. Situated in the heart of Messina, NH Liberty, built in 1930, and newly renovated. It's position makes it ideal for business stays as well as holidays. There is another NH hotel in Messina [4] ^{[dead link]} if this one is full.

• ^{[dead link]} Il Parco degli Ulivi, Contrada Romeo, Villafranca Tirrena, ☏ +39 090 3379529, fax: +39 090 3379528, [email protected]. 

• Tourist Village Capo Calavà, ☏ +39 0941 302501, fax: +39 0941 301188. C.da Capo Calavà, Gioiosa Marea. Directly on the beach and in the heart of a verdant park with a piano bar, discotheque, miniclub, restaurant, wellness center, business center, and 280 comfortable rooms. Prices start from 420€ per week. 

• ^{[dead link]} Hilton Hotel Portarosa Messina, ☏ +39 0941 802 500, fax: +39 0941 802 555. Complesso Turistico Portorosa, Furnari. Luxury four star hotel outside the city with private beach, spa centre, windsurfing and sailing class, plus a Congress Centre for the ideal business meeting just a two steps away from the Sicilian Sea. 

• Hotel Royal Palace In the heart of the commercial centre, 200 meters far from the station. The restaurant "Lo Scrigno" offers a refined service and the best dishes of the cuisine of Messina and Sicily and selected specialties of the National cuisine as well.

• Grand Avalon Sikani Resort & Residence Sicily, Contrada Licari, Goioiosa Marea, ☏ +39 0941 301100. Features 119 guest and family rooms wit sea view of the Aeolian Islands. Private beach. Located in the Northern Coast of Sicily (Goioiosa Marea) very near Messina. Facilities: A/C, infinity swimming pool, sea-view solarium, running center, spa & wellnes center, banquet facilities, conference centre. 

• Villa Luca Messina, ☏ +39 0941 702394, fax: +39 0941 701383. Contrada Muti 1, Sant'Agata Militello. Relaxing country house located on the edge of Messina, immerse in a fantastic green area with a swimming pool. The Villa Luca offers 12 guest rooms, one for disables, with private bath and breakfast included. Double and twin rooms €65; triple and family 92.