Things to Do and See in Messina

Messina, the capital of the province of the same name, welcomes visitors from across the Strait with its port, a ferry terminal connecting the island to the mainland; it ranks first in Italy for the number of passengers in transit and sixth for cruise ship traffic. The city is a blend of modernity—which characterizes its entire urban layout—and vestiges of its glorious past. The most prestigious Norman monument, commissioned by Roger II, is the Cathedral, built in the first half of the 12th century. Inside, it houses the statue of St. John the Baptist, attributed to Antonello Gagini, and the Chapel of the Sacrament, created by Jacopo del Duca, a pupil of Michelangelo. Every day at the stroke of noon, visitors can admire the sculptural figures on the west side of the bell tower, animated by mechanical devices that depict historical and religious episodes from the city’s history. Other religious buildings worth visiting include the Church of St. Francis of Assisi—the first church built by the Franciscan Order in Sicily—and the Church of the Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani, built between 1150 and 1200 on the ruins of the pagan temple of Neptune. Also worth noting is the Regional Museum (Pinacoteca), which houses a collection of precious works, including Antonello da Messina’s “Polyptych of Saint Gregory,” Caravaggio’s “Adoration of the Magi,” and “The Raising of Lazarus.” In addition, visitors can admire Roman sarcophagi, busts, mosaics, panels, sculptures, and silverware from the Norman–Swabian period.