Where History Speaks: Museums and Monuments on the Strait
REGIONAL MUSEUM OF MESSINA
Discover the Regional Museum of Messina “Maria Accascina”
In the heart of Messina lies a magical place where time stops and history comes alive: the “Maria Accascina” Regional Museum, inaugurated in 2017 within a stunning, modern, and expansive structure covering over 17,118 square meters of pure wonder.
Standing where the ancient Basilian monastery of San Salvatore dei Greci once rose—whose fascinating ruins and mysterious underground crypt are still visible—you can embark on an incredible journey through millennia of Sicilian history.
Immerse yourself in the legend: from prehistoric traces of the 4th millennium B.C. all the way to 19th-century masterpieces, every hall tells a different story. Messina’s strategic location, a natural gateway between the seas, has made this city a crossroads of cultures, peoples, and art, and every displayed work is a living testament to that.
Prepare to be left breathless by the absolute masterpieces of Antonello da Messina and Caravaggio—names that resonate worldwide and which find their most prestigious home here. But that’s not all: the innovative setup will allow you to discover treasures from every era, gathered in evocative settings that narrate stories of beauty, faith, and culture.
A rebirth from the ashes: this extraordinary museum carries the charm of a tormented yet resilient history. Founded in 1806 and having survived the devastating 1908 earthquake, it has overcome wars and destruction to be reborn, each time more splendid, thanks to the passion of visionary scholars like Maria Accascina, who dedicated her life to preserving this priceless heritage.
Three floors of emotion await you, where every space is a natural theater where art, history, and architecture merge into one unforgettable experience. Come and discover the beating heart of Mediterranean culture, where every stone tells a story and every work of art is a window into worlds lost but never forgotten.
The Regional Museum of Messina is waiting to give you an experience you will cherish forever.
MESSINA CATHEDRAL: THE DUOMO
Messina Cathedral: A Symbol of Faith and Millennial History
The Duomo Basilica Cathedral of Messina is the spiritual heart of the city and a powerful symbol of its resilience. Its imposing structure, with the apses facing east and the façade facing west, testifies to its ancient origins.
Construction of the Duomo began between 1130 and 1154 under the reign of Roger II and was consecrated in 1197. Its history is a succession of destruction and rebirth. Severely damaged by the earthquakes of 1783 and 1908, and later by the bombings of the Second World War in 1943, the Duomo was rebuilt every single time with sheer tenacity, reopening for worship in 1929 and again in 1947, when Pope Pius XII granted it the title of Basilica.
The Duomo features a basilica-style architecture, with three naves and a double row of 13 columns supporting the pointed arches. You must visit the exquisite Norman crypt, frescoed in the 17th century, and view the fragments of the wooden ceiling decorated with Arab and Byzantine patterns, now preserved at the Regional Museum. The Cathedral safeguards a rich artistic heritage, the result of constant enrichment over the centuries.
The Bell Tower: An Animated Giant in Messina’s Heart
The Bell Tower of Messina Cathedral, standing at 60 meters (197 feet) tall, is not just a tower; it’s a masterpiece of engineering and art, widely considered the largest and most complex mechanical clock in the world.
Rebuilt after the devastating 1908 earthquake at the behest of Archbishop Angelo Paino, this extraordinary clock was created by the Ungerer brothers of Strasbourg and inaugurated on August 15, 1933. It comes to life every day at noon. Its intricate mechanical figures re-enact salient episodes of Messina’s history and tradition, from the legend of the heroines Dina and Clarenza to the homage to the Madonna della Lettera.
The Bell Tower also houses a complex astronomical section, complete with a planetarium that reproduces the solar system and a sphere that tracks the lunar phases. Its eight bells, cast in 1929, produce the largest concert of chimes in all of Sicily.
Did You Know? Unmissable Facts
The Cathedral’s organ, which replaced the one destroyed by World War II bombings in 1943, was inaugurated on August 8, 1948. Built by the Tamburini company in Crema, it is unique in Italy for its expressive quality and size, and ranks among the largest in Europe.
-
It features 16,000 pipes distributed across six organ cases.
-
The largest wooden pipe stands almost 12 meters (40 feet) tall and is more than half a meter wide.
The Bell Tower, with its eight bells cast by the Colbachini foundry in Padua in 1929, produces the largest concert of chimes in all of Sicily. Additionally:
-
Two other bells, saved from the 1908 earthquake, were cast in the 15th century by Micheal Salicula.
-
A model of the Bell Tower is even on display at the Museum of Science and Technology in Berlin!
Roccaguelfonia and the Shrine of Cristo Re
This central-plan structure stands majestically atop a hill that boasts one of Messina’s most spectacular panoramic views. This site was once home to the ancient Roccaguelfonia or Matagriffone Castle.
Inside the Shrine, you’ll find a marble sarcophagus featuring the figure of a soldier, a work by Antonio Bonfiglio. The walls contain a thousand burial niches holding the remains of soldiers who fell in wartime.
Adjacent to the Shrine is the surviving octagonal tower of the ancient castle, where Charles D’Anjou (known as “the Lame”) was imprisoned in 1284. On the tower’s roof, on August 11, 1935, the immense ‘Campanone’ bell was installed. Cast using the bronze from enemy cannons seized during the 1915-18 war, this bell stands 2.80 meters tall and weighs a colossal 13,000 kilograms (13 tons)!
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
Designed by the architect Camillo Puglisi Allegra in the Neo-Rococo style, the Galleria was inaugurated on August 13,1929.
Inside, the structure is composed of three converging arms that meet at the center in a hexagon, which is crowned by a glass dome ceiling and features three entrances. The central portico, which overlooks Piazza Antonello, boasts a monumental arch, marked by robust pilasters and a raised pediment, establishing it as the Galleria’s main entrance.
Church of the Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani
This remarkable church was built between 1150 and 1200 upon the remains of a classical-era temple dedicated to Neptune.
In the 13th century, its façade was shortened following an earthquake. Later, during the Aragonese reign in the 14th century, the church was entrusted to a congregation of Catalan merchants, from which it took its current name.
It is characterized by an architectural eclecticism that condenses Latin, Byzantine, and Arab cultures. Inside, it preserves a valuable 1606 painting by Tommaso Montella, depicting the Immaculate Conception.
The Fountain of Orion by Montorsoli
This fountain, famously called “the most beautiful fountain of the European Cinquecento (16th century)” by art historian Bernard Berenson, was commissioned by the Messina Senate and completed by sculptor Giovan Angelo Montorsoli in 1553.
The fountain features figures representing the rivers Nile, Tiber, Ebro, and Camaro. The local Camaro river was the source from which the water was first drawn to feed the city’s aqueduct, which was begun in 1530 and completed in 1547.
PALACE OF CULTURE: ANTONELLO DA MESSINA
The “Antonello da Messina” Palace of Culture: The Beating Heart of Messina’s Art, History, and Traditions
Let the energy of this place sweep you away! It’s not just a building; it’s a genuine blend of history and modernity, located right in the pulsing heart of Messina. Welcome to the PalaAntonello, a true beacon of culture and identity!
This multi-functional complex, inaugurated in 2010, welcomes you today with its bold and unmistakable architecture: a spectacular inverted truncated pyramid in salmon pink that dominates the skyline. Masterfully constructed with steel and concrete to withstand time and earthquakes, it stands as a symbol of resilience and innovation.
What Awaits You Inside? An Emotional Journey!
- The Call of Art: Explore the GAAM (Messina Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art), where contemporary creativity dialogues with the city’s past.
- The Soul of Messina: Immerse yourself in millennial traditions by visiting the Museum of the Vara and the Giants. Here, history, popular devotion, and folklore take shape, allowing you to admire the city’s iconic symbols, like Mata and Grifone, in a unique and emotional experience that will make you feel part of the celebration.
- The Magic of the Theatre: Experience the magnificent 850-seat theatre, with its four tiers, ready to host unforgettable performances that resonate deep within the soul.
- A View of the Sky: Ascend to the 250-seat outdoor Auditorium—a modern amphitheater that will reward you not only with evocative events but also with a unique and inspiring perspective on the city.
- Timeless Knowledge: Lose yourself among the shelves of the historic “Tommaso Cannizzaro” Civic Library, a treasure trove of knowledge at your complete disposal.
The Palace of Culture is the perfect synthesis of functionality and beauty—a dynamic crossroads that pulses with cultural life.
Don’t miss the chance to visit this giant of concrete and spirit! Come to Messina and let the PalaAntonello inspire you: it’s where culture isn’t just displayed, it’s vivid, palpable, and a direct bridge to the most authentic soul of Sicily!
Vittorio Emanuele Theatre
Inaugurated on January 12, 1852, the theatre was designed by the Neapolitan architect Pietro Valente, who first envisioned it in 1827.
Originally named Santa Elisabetta in homage to the Queen Mother of Ferdinand II of Bourbon, the structure preserves important 19th-century Neoclassical sculptures by the Messinese artist Saro Zagari. Among these, at the peak of the façade, is the powerful work: “Time Unveiling Truth, and Messina, Enchanted by its Light, Reaching to Embrace It.”
VisitME Messina
Tourism Brand of the City of Messina. Curated by the Department of Tourism of the City of Messina.
Please contact us for further information.
Useful Links
Contact Us
Municipalty of Messina
Messina Events
YoungME
Brand VisitME