Sicily, Messina, Italy

Cathedral of the Holy Spirit

The architectural landmark of Messina and its main attraction - The Norman-style Cathedral is perhaps the most beautiful on the island. Built in 1150, it has survived a great many misfortunes - a fire in the 13th century, earthquakes in the 18th and 20th centuries, and finally a bomb strike during World War II, yet it has kept its grandeur. On the adjacent bell tower “campanile” you can see the world’s largest astronomical clock: at noon, a whole procession of figures emerges, including a roaring lion and a singing rooster. You can see the figures up close by climbing the bell tower. You should also definitely visit the cathedral’s treasury, where a magnificent 17th-century golden robe is on display, “belonging” to the statue of the Madonna della Lettera.

Church of Santa Maria Annunziata dei Catalani

One of the oldest churches in Messina, built in the 12th century on the site of a pagan temple and consecrated in honor of Saint Mary. The architecture of this rather unusual structure is a true “mixed bag”: here you can find an Arabic dome, Norman forms, Byzantine blind arches with columns, and Eastern patterns. In short, an amazing blend of styles on Sicilian soil. Even more astonishing is that this temple was practically unscathed during the destructive earthquakes and air bombings of the Second World War.

Fountains of Orion and Neptune

You can relax in the hot Sicilian midday on the benches by the Orion and Neptune fountains. The Orion Fountain is dedicated to the legendary founder of Messina, and its author is none other than Montorsoli himself, a student of Michelangelo. The Neptune Fountain was also sculpted by this master; it is the largest in the city and somehow resembles Trevi. And opposite it stands the gilded statue of the Madonna of Porta.

Church of Santa Maria Alemanna

The Church of Santa Maria Alemanna is worth visiting, at least because it is the only Gothic church in Sicily. It was built in the 12th century by the Knights of the Teutonic Order and for several centuries was used as a hospital and an inn for those returning from campaigns to the Holy Land. There is evidence that in the 16th century, after the Battle of Lepanto, the local hospital held a wounded Cervantes. Today, the church has been restored after earthquakes and natural disasters and is used for concerts and exhibitions.

Torre-Faro Tower

Enjoy a breathtaking view of the Strait of Messina from the top of the 224-meter Torre-Faro tower, once used to support an overhead power line. The observation deck is located at a height of 200 meters, but you’ll have to climb the 1,250 steps to reach it on your own two feet-unfortunately, no elevator is available.

Regional Museum of Messina

The Regional Museum of Messina can boast a priceless collection of paintings. Famous masterpieces have been donated to the museum from private collections since 1806. In particular, the Messina exhibition attracts connoisseurs of the works of Caravaggio and Antonello da Messina. In addition to paintings by these famous masters, the museum features a large collection of silver and marble works, a collection of Norman sculptures, ancient sarcophagi, fragments of church portals, bas-reliefs and even the robes of monks from the 15th-18th centuries.

Fortress of Saint Salvatore

The first thing a traveler sailing to Messina by sea sees is the narrow island of St. Ranieri, the city’s maritime gateway. Since the 11th century, this island has served as a refuge for Byzantine monks, but after five centuries, the grand construction of the fortress of St. Salvatore began here. To this day, due to frequent earthquakes, only a few of the bastions of this defensive structure have survived. On one of them, a 60-meter Campana tower has been erected, crowned by a statue of the Madonna-the patroness of Messina. According to tradition, she blesses everyone entering the Messina harbor with good intentions.

Messina- a city that keeps a grateful memory of Russians

During the excursion, you will see the church San Francesco d’Assisi o dell’Immacolata, the church San Giovanni Malta with its Treasury, where a collection of church artifacts is displayed, and the astronomical clock-the most interesting feature of the 60-meter bell tower to the left of the cathedral. Tourists will visit the Orion Fountain, designed in the pre-Baroque style (16th century) by the Tuscan architect Montorsoli and installed in honor of the opening of the city aqueduct. It is an allegory of four rivers: the Tiber, the Nile, the Euphrates, and the Camaro (the river in Messina), whose waters were directed into the new aqueduct. The church Santissima Annunziatadei Catalani is located not far from the Cathedral, on Garibaldi Street. The church was built in the 12th century during the reign of the Normans, and in the 13th century it was remodeled and named in honor of the Catalan merchants. The church Santa Maria Alemanna has unfortunately been badly damaged, but it still preserves elements of the Gothic style, which is rarely found in Sicily.

You can find a more detailed list of excursions and their prices after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.