Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Boat -- Messina is linked to the Italian mainland by both ferries and hydrofoils crossing the Straits of Messina from either Villa San Giovanni or Reggio di Calabria.

Ferries leave from Villa San Giovanni, which is 12km (7 1/2 miles) north of Reggio and closer to Messina. Ferry services are called traghetti; FS (tel. 892021 in Villa San Giovanni) is state run, while Caronte (tel. 090-37183214) is independent. Offices for both companies can be found at the harbor where the ferries depart. Both ferries charge a fare of 8€ ($10) to Messina.

If you're leaving from Reggio di Calabria, you can take a ferry operated by Meridiano (tel. 0965-810414), which charges 1.55€ ($2) for the 40-minute crossing to Messina.

By Plane -- The nearest airport to Messina is on the Italian mainland at Reggio di Calabria. Aeroporto dello Stretto (tel. 0965-640517) is 5km (3 miles) south of Reggio. Once you land at the airport, you can take one of the buses operated by Autolinee Federico, Via Lagani (tel. 090-644747), to Messina.

By Train -- Eight trains arrive daily from Rome, the trip south taking 8 to 9 hours and costing 45€ ($59) one-way. A train link from Naples takes 5 1/2 hours, costing 35€ ($46). There are also frequent rail links to Palermo, with a dozen or more trains going between Messina and the island's capital, taking approximately 3 1/2 hours and costing 11€ ($14) one-way. The major attraction along the Tyrrhenian coast is Cefalù; trains from Messina go there throughout the day in 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours, costing 8.60€ ($11). There are also hourly trains between Messina and Taormina, Sicily's major resort to the south, taking 1 hour and costing 4.50€ ($5.85) each way. For rail information, call tel. 892021.

By Bus -- SAIS, Piazza delle Repubblica 6 (tel. 090-771914), operates buses to Catania nine times a week, taking 1 1/2 hours and costing 7.50€ ($9.75) one-way. There are seven buses per day to Palermo, a 3 1/4-hour trip that costs 15€ ($20). Many visitors use Interbus (tel. 090-661754), with offices to the left of the Stazione Centrale. It runs a dozen buses per day to Taormina, taking 1 1/2 hours and costing 5.50€ ($7.15) one-way.

By Car -- From the mainland of Italy, follow A3 south to Reggio di Calabria, getting off at Villa San Giovanni and taking a car ferry across the Straits of Messina to Messina itself. Along the northern coast, travel the A20/SS113 east from Palermo and Cefalù. The A18 from Taormina runs north to Messina.

Rolling on, Rolling off Across the Sea -- Train or bus travel across the Straits of Messina involves large-scale engineering on a most massive scale: Your train or bus will roll from the terra firma of the Italian mainland directly into the hold of a container ship for transport across the water. Passengers are allowed to remain in their seats on the train or bus, or they can stroll around the ship's upper decks for a breath of fresh air and a visit to the snack bar. A few minutes before landing, passengers head back to their seats on the train or bus, just before it rolls from its berth in the ship's hold onto the highway or railway tracks of Sicily.

Visitor Information

For information and a map, head to the Azienda Autonoma per L'Incremento Turistico, Via Calabria 301 (tel. 090-674236), near Piazza della Repubblica and Stazione Centrale. It's open Monday to Thursday 9am to 1:30pm and 3 to 5pm and Friday 9am to 1:30pm.

Orientation

Messina grew around its harbor, which is shaped like a sickle. You'll see this geographic configuration as you sail into the harbor. The tip of the sickle is marked by a towering statue, Madonna della Lettera, atop one of the tall towers of Forte San Salvatore, built in 1546 by the Spanish viceroys.

Via Garibaldi, running parallel to the sea, is the main street. It goes through Piazza del Duomo, the town's major square. South of this square is the second-most important square in Messina, Piazza Carducci, site of the university, founded in 1548 and reconstructed in 1927.

To the east, the port is protected by the lighthouse known as the Lanterna di Raineri, on the peninsula of the same name. Via 1 Settembre leads from the sea to the heart of town. The transportation hub of Messina is Piazza della Repubblica, in front of Stazione Centrale. Most of the major bus lines converge on this square. To reach the heart of Messina from Piazza della Repubblica, head straight across the busy square and walk directly north along Via 1 Settembre to Piazza del Duomo, a square crowned by Messina's cathedral.

If you come by hydrofoil or ferry from Reggio di Calabria, you'll arrive 1km (1/2 mile) north of Stazione Centrale on Via Vittorio Emanuele II. Those taking a ferry from Villa San Giovanni reach land 3km (1 3/4 miles) farther on or about 500m (1,640 ft.) north of Fiera, the site of Messina's trade fairs.

Getting Around

Most hotels and attractions lie in the center and are best reached on foot. If you need to go farther afield, ATM buses depart from the transportation hub, Piazza della Repubblica. Bus tickets can be purchased at tabacchi (tobacco shops) or news kiosks throughout the city; they cost 1€ ($1.30) for a ticket valid for 1 1/2 hours or 2.60€ ($3.40) for an all-day ticket. The most useful route is no. 79, which stops at the Museo Regionale and the duomo.

Taxis are found mainly at the Stazione Centrale, at Piazza Cairoli, and along Via Calabria. For a 24-hour radio taxi, call tel. 090-2934880.