Messina

Messina is a port city in northeastern Sicily, and the capital of the Metropolitan City of Messina. It sits on the northern tip of the island, facing the Strait of Messina opposite Reggio Calabria on the Italian mainland. The city is a major maritime gateway and administrative center for the region.

Messina has ancient origins; it was known in antiquity as Zancle and later developed as a prominent trading center in the Mediterranean. The city suffered extensive damage in the 1908 Messina earthquake and the associated tsunami, after which much of the urban fabric was rebuilt in the following decades.

Among its landmarks are the Cathedral of Messina, with its imposing bell tower that houses the famous astronomical clock. The historic center also contains churches, palaces, and a university. The University of Messina, founded in 1547, is one of the oldest universities in Europe.

The Port of Messina remains a key node for ferries to the mainland and for commercial and cruise traffic. The city is linked by road and rail to Sicily's interior; a long-standing proposal to construct a bridge across the Strait of Messina has not yet been realized.

Messina serves as a regional cultural and economic center, with a population in the low hundreds of thousands and a metropolitan area that extends to surrounding municipalities.