Messina short visit: about 2 hrs.
The visit starts from Piazza Duomo, the beating heart of the historic center of the city, where you will appreciate the elegance of the Fountain of Orion and the imposing Bell Tower with the largest and most complex astronomical clock in the world. We will visit the Duomo with its Treasure (optional) where we will admire with amazing golden and silver works of art created by Messina goldsmiths and silversmiths for their Cathedral and above all the wonderful Golden Manta of the Madonna della Lettera, a golden cover studded with jewels and precious gems still used to cover the painting of the Madonna placed over the Cathedral main altar on the patron Saint’s day. After a careful visit of the church, on foot we will reach the statue of Don Giovanni of Austria, admiral leader of the battle of Lepanto, and the Church SS. Annunziata dei Catalani, a true jewel of Norman Arab art. After walking along Via Cardines, we will make a short stop to appreciate the Largo delle Due Fontane. Return to Piazza Duomo. If the itinerary is carried out in the morning we will watch the noon movement of the mechanism of the Clock Tower.
Messina Half Day: about 4 hrs.
Meeteng point at Cathedral square to explore the city and its main monuments: Cathedral, Orion Fountain, statue of Don Juan of Austria, Church of SS. Annunziata dei Catalani, Largo of the two fountains; panoramic bus tour of the city, we will see the main buildings of the city such as the Courthouse, the University, we will pass by the botanical garden, the church of San Camillo and we will first reach the Sanctuary of Montalto, a place linked to many Marian miracles, and the Shrine of Christ the King with its panoramic viewpoint. During the visit to the Cathedral, it is possible to visit the Cathedral Treasury and the Bell Tower (optional). If the itinerary takes place in the morning, we will watch the mechanism of the Bell Tower clock in operation at 12:00 noon.
Messina Full Day: about 7 hrs.
Meeting point at the Cathedral square to explore the city and its main monuments: Cathedral, Orion fountain, statue of Don Giovanni d’Austria, the Church of SS. Annunziata dei Catalani, and Largo of the two fountains. Take a panoramic bus tour of the city to reach the Sanctuary of Montalto and the Shrine of Christ the King with its panoramic viewpoint. At 12 noon, we will watch the mouvement of the clock tower. In the afternoon, we will move to the northern part of the city to visit the Regional Museum (optional) with masterpieces by Antonello da Messina and Caravaggio, and then continue by bus to the northern cape of Sicily, where the closest point between the Calabrian and Sicilian coasts is located. We will travel along the northern coast, with its fishing villages, and arrive at the lakes of Ganzirri and the Capo Peloro natural reserve, established in 2001, where mussels and clams are still cultivated nowadays. During the visit to the Cathedral, it is possible to visit the Cathedral Treasury and the Bell Tower (optional).
MESSINA RELIGIOUS ITINERARY
Half Day: Meeting place at the Cathedral square, to visit the Cathedral and the Cathedral Treasury. We will admire the marvellous Golden Manta of the Madonna of the Letter, a gold cover studded with jewels and precious gems still used to cover the painting of the Madonna over the high altar, on the feast day. Among the other sacred furnishings, we will also see the reliquary of the Sacred Hair of the Madonna, the votive gold donated to the Madonna delle Grazie and the chalice donated by Pope John Paul II to Messina. After a complete visit to the church, we will walk to the Monastery of Montevergine, where the incorrupt body of Saint Eustochia, a 15th-century saint from Messina, is preserved. We will continue by bus to the Sanctuary of Montalto, a place of miraculous apparitions and Marian devotion.
Full Day: Meeting place at the Cathedral square, to visit the Cathedral and the Cathedral Treasury. We will admire the marvellous Golden Manta of the Madonna of the Letter, a gold cover studded with jewels and precious gems still used to cover the painting of the Madonna over the high altar, on the feast day. Among the other sacred furnishings, we will also see the reliquary of the Sacred Hair of the Madonna, the votive gold donated to the Madonna delle Grazie and the chalice donated by Pope John Paul II to Messina. After a complete visit to the church, we will walk to the Monastery of Montevergine, where the incorrupt body of Saint Eustochia, a 15th-century saint from Messina, is preserved. We will continue by bus to the Sanctuary of Montalto, a place of miraculous apparitions and Marian devotion. In the afternoon visit to the Sanctuary of Saint Antony of Padua.