Main places on the route: Messina Cathedral, astronomical clock, Shrine of Christ the King, Tindari, Black Madonna.
Messina and Tindari city tour.
Messina is located in the north-eastern part of Sicily. It is the third largest city on the island, known for its ancient history and amazing resilience, vibrant culture and delicious cuisine. Messina is often referred to as “the door of Sicily”, as it occupies a unique strategic position between the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas.
A devastating earthquake and tsunami in 1908 destroyed much of the historical sites, and during World War II the city was heavily bombed. However, like a phoenix, Messina has continually risen from the ashes, rebuilding itself and preserving its rich history.
Messina has very interesting churches, unlike those of mainland Italy. They have a wonderful blend of Norman, Arabic, Byzantine, Gothic and Byzantine styles that make them airy, monumental and unusual.
Messina Cathedral is the main church of the city. The first church building was erected in 530 AD. When Sicily came under Arab rule, the church became a mosque for two centuries. An earthquake in 1908 left nothing of it.
The cathedral was rebuilt in the twenties, but in 1943 it was severely damaged by bombing. That is why many of the decorative elements of the landmark (sculptures, Byzantine mosaics), are copies of the original works, which failed to survive. The cathedral organ is the second largest in Italy and the third largest in Europe. The main decoration of the building is a huge astronomical clock, designed in 1933 by the Strasbourg firm Wigerer.
The Basilica of St Francis is the second most important temple. The construction of the church began in 1254, 28 years after the death of St Francis, at the request of the nobles of the town. The church was so important for the town that for a long time nobles were buried there. In 1377, for example, Federico IV of Aragon, ruler of the Kingdom of Sicily, found his final resting place here.
The Church of the Annunciation of the Catalans is a landmark almost unaffected by the 1908 earthquake. The building only sagged a metre and a half into the ground due to changes in the terrain. This is why, looking at the church, it looks as if it has sunk into the ground. The church appeared at the end of XII century on the place of the temple dedicated to Neptune. The church looks unusual for Sicily: there are very few Gothic buildings here.
The Church of St John of Malta – its history began in 540, when St Benedict of Nursia sent a young monk Placido to Messina to found a monastery and church of the Benedictine order. It was erected on the site of a former Roman necropolis. Six years later Placido died under torture at the hands of a pirate who demanded that the monk renounce his faith.
More sights along the route
The first church that catches the eye of the traveller arriving from the sea is the Temple of the King of Heaven, an unusual building that is not so much a temple as a war memorial. Within its walls are thousands of niches in which the bodies of soldiers who died during the First World War are buried.
King Richard the Lionheart built the fortress of Mategriffon here. He did this in order to control Messina and gain concessions from the King of Sicily. Before sailing Richard demolished part of the fort, but the subsequent rulers of the city and conquerors did not leave this place without attention: a castle was built here. In 1282, its walls hid a garrison of French soldiers from the rebellious citizens, and in XVI st.
Many houses and palaces in Messina appeared at the beginning of the last century, and therefore, given the antiquity of the city, they can be considered fairly new. But this makes them no less interesting, as the buildings were designed taking into account the layout of old streets and buildings, while introducing new, modern elements.
The Vittorio Emanuele II Theatre – the building was begun in 1842 at the behest of King Ferdinand II Bourbon of Sicily. It was opened in 1952.
The theatre was first called the Theatre of St Elizabeth.
Palazzo Zanca – the palace was part of a complex of buildings that crescent-shaped the harbour. After the house was destroyed, restoration work began in December 1914 under the direction of (Antonio Zanca), and ended in 1924.
Vittorio Emanuele III Gallery – this structure is referred to locally as the “city lounge”. But work is still underway. The gallery is a passageway where it is planned to house shops, restaurants, cafes, offices (some of them are already there).
Palazzo Piacentini – it was built on the site of a hospital destroyed by the earthquake. Now it is a palace of justice.
Messina has a lot of monuments and fountains. At the entrance to the harbour, ships are greeted by the Virgin Mary, who holds a letter written to the townspeople. There is a fountain dedicated to the city’s founder, Orion, as well as to Poseidon, god of the seas.
A statue of the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Messina, on top of a gilded bronze statue, welcomes all ships that enter the harbour.
Orion’s fountain is of white marble. It was created in 1553 by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, a pupil of Michelangelo. In the middle of the fountain is a three-tiered structure with Orion at the top. According to one of the myths, he founded the city. Two centuries after the fountain was installed, a bronze statue of Charles of Bourbon was added to the sculptural composition; eighty years later, a bronze statue of Francesco I was added. In 1848 there was a revolt against the Bourbons in Sicily – and both kings were melted down. From the resulting material, the rebels cast bullets.
