Probably one of the most important stretches of water in the Mediterranean is the Straits of Messina that separates the boot of Italy from the island of Sicily. In ancient legend the straight is said to be only an arrows shot wide. With a majority of cruise itineraries going south and east out of Rome’s port of Civitavecchia traveling through the straights is a common experience.
The Straights of Messina were often written about in ancient texts regarding Scylla and Charybdis, two monsters who attacked ships traveling through the straight. Scylla was a multi-headed monster that plucked sailors from the deck while Charybdis was a sea monster that crushed and sank ships. The most famous tale of all being about the Greek hero Odysseus who encounters Scylla and Charybdis on his return journey from the Trojan War. Odysseus was urged to follow the advice of the goddess Circe. Circe told Odysseus to sail closer to Scylla, rather than Charybdis, for it was wiser to lose a few men than to sink the whole ship.
Additionally the straight also saw the establishment of the important Greek cities of Messana and was the location of numerous naval battles, most notably the Battle of the Strait of Messina between Pyrrhus of Epirus and the Carthaginians in 276 BC.
Where Your Ship Docks
The Messina harbor is situated right in the center of the city and equipped with a cruise terminal along with another cruise pier. Public facilities are available as well as some shops and a bus stop.
Wheelchair Accessibility – Disembarking is dependent on ships gangway designs. The cruise pier disembarks right into downtown. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with. Locations.
Port City Characteristics – This port has a well developed wheelchair friendly infrastructure. The port area is flat or has few inclines. Intersection crosswalks have few issues with curbs or other wheelchair obstacles. Outside the port area the city does have an increase in elevation to deal with.
Public Transportation
The Central Station of Messina is the second most important one of Sicily. Nearer the port is a station called Messina Marittima and is there for connections with mainland Italy with ferries to both Reggio Calabria and Villa San Giovanni.
Most public transportation in the city is by bus with an 8 kilometer long, tram line. For the bus and tram a single use ticket costs 1.50 Euro and is valid for 100 minutes from the time of use stamping. At the bus the price is 2 Euros. A ticket for 200 minutes costs 2.50 Euro but must be stamped twice. A day ticket costs 4 Euro, a 72-hour ticket 10 Euro.
Currency
Italy uses the Euro which recently has ranged from US$1.05 to US$1.12 to 1€ Euro. ATMs* are plentiful and credit cards are usually welcome. https://intend2travel.info/2023/12/29/international-travel-credit-cards-atms-identity-theft/
Tipping
Tipping follows a general tipping culture similar to many European countries. Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. If service charges are included in your bill, rounding up or leaving small change is customary. In restaurants, leaving between 5-10% of the bill is a common practice if you are satisfied with the service. Tipping tour guides is usually based on the tour cost with a few dollars being a minimum. For taxi drivers or service staff, rounding up the fare or leaving a small tip is often sufficient.
Local Attraction
Messina Cathedral – A stunning example of Norman architecture, the cathedral is known for its beautiful facade and the astronomical clock that offers a daily show.
La Spiaggetta – A beautiful beach perfect for sunning and swimming that offers stunning views of the Straits of Messina.
The Astronomical Clock Of Messina – Located in the main square, it’s one of the largest in the world, with intricate mechanisms and a show at noon that always attracts a crowd.
Taormina
A great day trip to consider while visiting Messina is Taormina about an hour south along the coast. The town has a beach vibe about it but the main town is located above the sea and is also recognized as one of Europe’s best shopping destinations. A number of famous fashion houses operate salons in Taormina. There are 3 ways to get from Messina to Taormina
Train, Rideshare or Taxi.
Train from Messina Centrale to Taormina-Giardini takes about an hour and costs 4 to 9 Euros. Service is frequent. Rideshare (uber) also about an hour but varies by traffic conditions and will cost between 6 and 12 Euros. Taxi service should run about 100 Euros but fare can be negotiated and again the trip should take about an hour.
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