Ever since its foundation Messina, now the 3rd largest city in Sicily, had to survive against wars and natural disasters. Follow me in an amazing journey through its glorious past and you'll get to know medieval churches, Renaissance and Baroque fountains, exquisite paintings by Caravaggio and Art Déco buildings marking the rise of the new city after the early XXth century tremendous earthquake. I can customize the tour according to your schedule and personal requests. Feel free to ask me!
Piazza Municipio, Messina
We meet at Piazza Municipio to introduce the tour and then public transportation (streetcar) to reach the museum.
After our meeting we'll reach the Museum of Messina via public transportation, an opportunity to mix with the local people and have a look at the waterfront and the local traffic connecting the city to Italy by ferries. Once at the museum we'll focus on the masterpieces by extraordinary artists like Antonello da Messina, Caravaggio, Montorsoli and many others who worked in town.
Walking tour in the town center for a stroll around the area. We can enjoy strolling around small pedestrian alleys, little churches and larger lanes built in the early Thirties. Finally we'll visit the imposing Cathedral dating back to Middle Age and the tall bell tower hosting the largest astronomical clock in Europe. 230 steps and you'll have the city at your feet, not to forget the carousel playing everyday at noon: unmissable!
This account of Messina's glorious past will also include a stop at a traditional bakery where typical pastries like the well known "cannoli" are baked or at a café to have an icecream or a "granita", the special sorbet invented by the Messinesi during the Arab rule in 11th century.
We stop at a local bakery or at a Cafe to taste sicilian pastry or a granita
The golden statues rotate and you can hear music and sounds.
We visit to the Cathedral and the bell tower
Our tour will finish here.
End of the tour outside the Cathedral
Cathedral of Messina
guiding fee
transportation fee, entrance fee at the museum Euro 8 per person, entrance fee at the bell tower Euro 4 per person, food drinks and snacks
If you reach Messina by cruise ship I can pick you up at the port which is very close to the meeting point.
If you're staying at a hotel we'll have to move back the meeting time depending on the location and you'll have to take a taxi or some other private transportation. I can take care of that if you like.
Please contact me in advance