Page 188 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

186  SICIL Y AREA B Y AREA

a Messina

The position of this ancient city, founded by the Sicels, who
named it Zancle, has long been the key to its importance.
Situated between the eastern and western Mediterranean,
and between the two vice royalties of Naples and Sicily,
Messina has always been influenced by its role as a meeting
point. Over the centuries it has been populated by Greek
Armenians, Arabs, Jews and other communities from the large
maritime cities of Europe, becoming increasingly important
up until the anti-Spanish revolt of 1674–8, after which the city The votive column at the entrance to the
port of Messina
fell into decline. Already damaged by the 1783 earthquake,
Messina was almost totally razed in 1908. Exploring Messina
The city developed around the
GANZIRRI harbour and its layout is quite
Museo Regionale easy to understand if you arrive
1.5 km (1 mile)
VIALE GIOSTRA
by sea. The defences of the
Forte San Salvatore and the
VIA DELLA LIBERTÀ
VIA PALERMO
Lanterna di Raineri, on the
peninsula of the same name
that protects the harbour to the
V IA MONSI G N O R D 'A R RIG O streets are Via Garibaldi (which
Messina, which lies on the
VIALE R E GIN A MA R G H E RITA VIA G. GARIBAL DI FIERA DI east, are your introduction to
gently sloping sides of the
MESSINA
Peloritani Mountains. The main
Cristo Re
skirts the seafront by the
VIA S. GIOVANNI DI MALTA
Comunale
which leads from the sea to the
Villa
V I A L E B O C C E T T A
Mazzini Acquario harbour) and Via I Settembre,
centre of town around Piazza
V I A X X I V M A G G I O MUNICIPIO VIA VITTORIO EMANUELE II the Montalto Sanctuary are
Montalto Duomo. Interesting attractions
Sanctuary CO RSO CAV OU R V IA G. GARIBALDI Marina such as the Botanic Garden and
VIA PRÍNCIPE UMBERTO
located on the hillside above
the city.
PIAZZA
VIA PRÍNCIPE UMBE R T O
Botanic Fontana di Orione R Santissima Annunziata
Garden Duomo dei Catalani
PIAZZA
DEL DUOMO Santissima Annunziata Piazza dei Catalani. Tel 090-675 175 or
Monument to dei Catalani 668-42 11. Open by appt only.
VIA BISAZZA
John of Austria Paradoxically, the devastating
Forte di San Salvatore 1908 earthquake helped to
VI A T. C A N NI Z Z AR O
PIAZZA 1.5 km (1 mile)
CARDUCCI VIA I SETTEMBRE “restore” the original 12th–
VIA PORTA IMPERIALE University ALEMANNA 13th-century structure of
this Norman period
VIA S. M.
Stazione
VIA DEL VESPRO
PIAZZA VIA CESARE BATTISTI VIA T. CANNIZZARO VIA CALABRIA Maríttima church, as it destroyed
almost all the later
PIAZZA
DEL PÓPOLO VIA CENTONZE VIA XXVII LUGLIO REPUBLICA additions and alterations.
CAIROLI
PIAZZA
DELLA
VIA DEI MILLE
The nave has two side
aisles and leads to the
VIALE SAN MARTINO VIA UGO BASSI NA VIA GIUSEPPE LA FARINA Station brick cupola.
Train
apse with its austere
VIA MADDALE
Santa Maria di 0 metres 600
VIA SANTA CECILIA
Mili Sanctuary
0 yards 600
The Centre of Messina 4 Fontana di Orione 8 Marina
1 Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani 5 University 9 Acquario Comunale
2 Monument to John of Austria 6 Botanic Garden 0 Forte di San Salvatore
3 Duomo 7 Montalto Sanctuary q Museo Regionale
For keys to map symbols see back flap
186-187_EW_Sicily.indd 186 11/3/16 2:10 PM