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Messina

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.
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
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.
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

Messina - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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


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

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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