Messina (Sicily Italy)

Messina (port locode ITMSN) is cruise port known as “the door to Sicily”. The city is located on Sicily Island's extreme northeastern tip, separated from mainland Italy by the Strait of Messina (width 5 km / 3 mi). The city has population around 240,000 ((metro over 650,000).

By passenger shipping traffic, Italy's largest seaports are Messina, Naples and Reggio Calabria.

While Taormina's principal port is Giardini-Naxos, some cruise ships offer shore excursions/bus tours to Taormina from Messina. The road distance is ~50 km / ~30 mi via highway A18/E45.

Messina is the island's 3rd largest city. The world-renowned attraction of the area is the volcano Mt Etna. The city passed a lot of tests over time – revolution (1678, against the Spanish), earthquakes (in 1783 and 1908) and bombing (in 1943, during World War II).

The main resources of the area include cruise tourism, seaport, wine production and agriculture. Messina has been the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese and Archimandrite since 1548. It is also home to an international fair. The University of Messina was established in 1548 by Ignatius Loyola.

The 12th-century Cathedral contains King Conrad's remains (ruler of Germany and Sicily during the 13th century). Following the devastating earthquake in 1908, the building had to be almost entirely rebuilt in 1919-1920, and again in 1943, because of a fire triggered by Allied bombings.

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Carmelo (close to the Courthouse) was built in 1931 and contains a 17th-century statue of the Virgin Mary.

Messina is a popular cruise port of call on many Mediterranean itineraries. Among the 2017 scheduled ship calls, the largest vessels were Majestic Princess (2 visits), AIDAaura (1 visit), MSC Meraviglia (23 visits) and Norwegian Spirit (16 visits).

In August 2017, the port officially announced plans for building a new cruise ship terminal. Among 2017's newcomers were the liners MSC Meraviglia (23 calls), Royal Princess, Celebrity Reflection, Norwegian Spirit. For season 2018 here booked Crown Princess (9 calls) and MSC Seaview (23 calls).

Messina cruise terminal