Planning a trip to Messina
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 Saturday 9am to 1:30pm.
Orientation
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.
Messina grew around its sickle-shaped 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 across the busy square and walk directly north along Via 1 Settembre to Piazza del Duomo, a square crowned by Messina's cathedral.
Getting There
By Boat
Messina is linked to the Italian mainland by 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; www.carontetourist.it) is independent. Offices for both companies can be found at the harbor where the ferries depart. Both ferries charge a fare of 28€ to Messina. If you're leaving from Reggio di Calabria, you can take the Meridiano ferry (tel. 0965-810414; www.meridianolines.it), which charges 2€ for foot passengers on the 40-minute crossing to Messina. Cars cost 12€. Crossings take about 20 minutes.
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. From here take the Metromare (tel. 0923-873813; www.metromaredellostretto.it) service -- a combination of bus and hydrofoil transportation. Journey time 1 hour; cost 9€. The nearest airport in Sicily, Aeroporto Vincenzo Bellini in Catania, is 110km/68.3 miles south of Messina. SAIS buses (tel. 800-211020; www.saisautolinee.it) run hourly at a cost of 8.50€ one way to Messina. Journey time: 2 hours.
By Train
Several trains a day come from the mainland, including Rome, and take up to 9 hours (cost 41.50€). There are also frequent rail links to Palermo, with 15 trains going between Messina and the island's capital, taking approximately 3 1/2 hours and costing 11.55€ one way. There are also hourly trains between Messina and Taormina, Sicily's major resort to the south, taking 1 hour and costing 3.80€ each way. For rail information, call tel. 892021 or see www.trenitalia.it.
By Bus
SAIS buses (tel. 800-211020; www.saisautolinee.it) operate from Catania daily with at least one an hour, taking 1 1/2 hours and costing 7.70€ one-way. There are eight buses a day from Palermo, a 2 3/4-hour trip that costs 15.10€ one way.
By Car
From the mainland of Italy, follow the 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.
Bridging the Gap -- The long-delayed development in Messina -- the Straits of Messina bridge project, which will link the city with Reggio Calabria on the mainland -- was announced in 2002. Construction began in late 2005 but was discontinued for 3 years. It was slated for completion in 2012 but as of yet the project has barely seen any building. The project has been a mess since its inception and fiercely opposed by nature conservationists. Check out www.strettodimessina.it for updates, drawings, and even computer simulations of the new bridge.
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 (tel. 090-22851; www.atmmessina.it) 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€ for a ticket valid for 1 1/2 hours or 2.60€ 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.
Fast Facts
Currency Exchange -- The most convenient currency exchange is Cambio/Ufficio Informazioni (tel. 090-675234), inside the Stazione Centrale. Open daily 7am to 9pm. There are also ATMs in the station.
Emergencies -- Call tel. 113 for the police, tel. 118 for first aid.
Hospitals -- Try Ospedale Policlinico Universitario, Via Valeria (tel. 090-2211), or Ospedale Piemonte, Viale Europa (tel. 090-2221).
Internet Access -- Internet Caffè, Via Garibaldi 72 (tel. 090-662758), is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 8pm and charges 4€ per hour.
Luggage Storage -- A kiosk at the Stazione Centrale will store your bags for 4€ for one hour and up to 11€ for 24 hours; open daily from 6am to 10pm. Photocopied ID is required when leaving luggage.
Post Office -- The main post office is on Corso Cavour 138 (tel. 090-6015752); it's open Monday to Friday 8:20am to 6:30pm and Saturday 8:20am to 12:30pm.
