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Culture of Messina. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Messina - Sicily Messina is rich in architectural sights of various periods, and one of the main symbols of the city is the wonderful Duomo di Messina. The cathedral built in the 12th century has survived repeatable reconstructions and destructions over the centuries. However, many elements of the building have remained unchanged after such a long period. The most beautiful marbles were used to decorate its facade, elegant Gothic windows have been preserved in the upper part of the cathedral. A valuable collection of artworks was once stored within the cathedral walls, but only a few of them have survived to our time. The reason for this was numerous earthquakes, after which the cathedral had to be rebuilt several times.
Your active city break in Messina. Attractions, recreation and entertainment - best places to spend your day and night here
Messina is a large port city that offers its guests all kinds of entertainment. The city creates excellent conditions for beach recreation and water sports. First-class sports centers and … Open
Another remarkable symbol of the city is its stunning fountains. All of them are decorated with interesting sculptural compositions depicting mythical characters. Near the cathedral is Fontana di Orione. According to one legend, the founder of the city was Orion. The famous sculptor Giovanni Montorsoli, one of Michelangelo's most talented students, worked on the creation of the central city fountain. Walking around the city, one can see several more symbolic fountains like Fontana del Nettuno located on one of the central squares. This is Montorsoli's another work adorned by a fine figure of Neptune.
A religious monument of local significance is Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani founded in the 12th century. The construction of this church was initiated by the Norman conquerors, who have managed to conquer Sicily in the 12th century. Since its founding, the church has been an important religious site for the townspeople, so a hundred years later, it underwent a major reconstruction and expansion. The historic church is notable for being one of the few buildings on the island that managed to survive the devastating earthquake in 1908. After that, however, the church was severely damaged during the Second World War but completely restored through the efforts of local residents. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Advices to travellers: what you should know while being in Messina
1. Messina has a large port where active navigation is carried out even at night. Here, tourists are offered interesting tours of other Sicilian cities, as well as trips to remote beaches. … Open
The main cultural center of Messina is the Museo regionale di Messina, one of the largest Sicilian museums that keeps a very diverse collection within its walls. It houses a large fine art gallery formed by works of local artists. One of the halls is dedicated to sculptures, and the archeology hall is considered the most interesting section. Research of important archaeological areas is still ongoing on the territory of Sicily. Many artifacts discovered by scientists are now stored in the Museum of Messina. The city's main museum occupies a beautiful historic building, while some of its interesting exhibits are displayed in the courtyard. Here you can see a collection of church bells brought here from churches destroyed during earthquakes.
Messina The most unusual attraction is the old cemetery Cimitero Monumentale Gran Camposanto, which was officially recognized as one of the most beautiful in Italy. The monumental cemetery is of great value from an architectural point of view, as beautiful monuments and sculptures in the styles of Art Nouveau and neoclassicism have been preserved here. The cemetery is located on a hilltop and looks in no way like a burial place in the usual sense of the word. Here you can see wonderful sculptures and magnificent trees at every step, interesting landscape compositions adorn the territory of the cemetery. At the top of the hill, you will find several great viewpoints.
Extraordinary weekend in Messina - unusual places, services and attractions for travel gourmet
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Just outside the city center is the wonderful Chiesa di San Francesco all’Immacolata, whose construction began in 1254. It took 28 years to build the beautiful temple by the order of the wealthiest citizens who made the biggest donations. Originally, the church was distinguished by beautiful architecture and rich decoration. In the first years after the foundation, many noble citizens were buried here. Their tombs are now of great historical value, too. In 1908, the church was completely destroyed by an earthquake, and it took 20 years for Messina residents to restore it completely. Since 1928, the church has been operating continuously.
A very interesting museum is housed in the Cathedral building and is called the Museo Tesoro del Duomo. It was founded in the cathedral treasury where an interesting collection of valuable items has been collected in the four halls. Here one can see ancient religious items, as well as luxurious gifts that noble residents of the city and its guests once presented to the cathedral. The most valuable exhibit is the golden mantle made by the famous 17th-century jeweler Innocenzo Mangani.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Messina and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Messina and surroundings

This guide to cultural sights Messina is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.
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Reference information
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Messina and around
♥   Art museum 'Museo Regionale' Messina, 2.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Art museum 'Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia' Reggio Calabria, 12.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Messina
♥   Basilica-Santuario del Sacro Cuore di Gesù e di S. Antonio, Messina, 1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica Cattedrale di Maria SS. Assunta in Cielo, Reggio di Calabria, 12.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica della Madre della Consolazione, Reggio di Calabria, 13.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Concattedrale di S. Maria Assunta, Santa Lucia del Mela, 24.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica di S. Sebastiano, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, 29.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica della Madonna dei Poveri, Seminara, 31.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica di S. Giovanni Paolo II, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, 32.5 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Rentals in Messina
Detailed Messina maps
Tram map of Messina
Messina photo gallery

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Photogallery of cultural heritage of Messina

Landmarks of culture on Messina map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc

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Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Messina

Calabria
Charming Calabria is usually associated with sunny beaches, while fans of excursion tourism come here every year in search of new discoveries and experiences. Virtually any city would suit for exploring the culture and history of the region; one of the most visited places is the picturesque fishing town of Pizzo Calabro. There is a unique religious landmark there, the old ... Open »
Taormina
Besides amazing ancient buildings, Taormina is rich in beautiful medieval monuments. Fans of excursions should definitely see the city's main religious landmark - the Cathedral of St. Nicholas (Dom San Nicolò). It was built in the beginning of the 15th century on the site of an old destroyed church, which bore the name of Nikolaos the Wonderworker. In front of the ... Open »
Lipari Island
Some of the locals still believe that the relics of the Saint are still under the St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral. It is known that the cathedral was built on the foundation of the ancient sanctuary of Normans. We can’t know for sure, whether it is true or not, but there is a legend, that the relics are still on the island. Furthermore, the cathedral is famous for the whole ... Open »
Salina Island
One of the main Italian characteristics is their clan system. Many of the local shops have been owned by the same family for generations. Local residents marry late and live with their parents up to thirty. Moreover, even when they have created their own family, they never forget about parents. Sometimes, women on Salina joke, that even if a local macho gets married, the ... Open »
Catania
Cathedral Square is known as a starting point for the majority of touristic routes. The square is also the location of the main symbol of Catania – a fountain with a black elephant. The beautiful fountain with a sculptural composition made of black basalt is a real work of art. One can endlessly admire its graceful shapes. Not far from the square you will find the main ... Open »
Sicily
The trip around cities of Sicily will be an unforgettable experience, because each of them has its amazing sights. The most important historical monument in Palermo is the Palace of the Normans located on the picturesque square of Independence. A beautiful architectural monument has long remained the seat of kings; now it is open to the public. Vacationers are certainly advised ... Open »
Culture guide to Messina. Which fascinating sights to visit once you are in Messina: temples, churches, museums, theaters and castles. Recommendations (with addresses, phone numbers and links) on the places 'must visit' in Messina. Plan your own city excursion by using this page info!
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