We are cruising the Mediterranean and will be in Messina, Sicily for one day only. Looking for ideas on how to spend the day. Would love your ideas on both major, do-not-miss sites as well as special, little-known treasures. Thanks!
Definitely head over to Piazza Duomo and check out Il Duomo di Messina. The campanile holds the largest astronomical clock in the world and if full of animated mechanical statues that put on quite the show at noon. Definitely worth seeing.
Right around the corner from the Piazza (I can't remember which street, but it's on the west side) there is a little pasticceria that has some of the best canolis.
You can also head up to Mt. Etna; it's not too far away. There's also some wineries up there, but I've heard that the wines are not that impressive.
You can also visit the pylon that was built to originally carry electricity over from the mainland. The cable is underwater now but they didn't destroy the pylons, and you can supposedly now climb to the top of the one in Messina and get some pretty good views (See http://www.ganzirri.it/spip.php?article57).
I would definitely catch a local train for a 40 minute (?) trip to Taormina. When you leave the train, you'll definitely want to take a taxi or local bus up to its clifftop location; it's probably 2,000 feet or more above the sea-level station.
Taormina is one of the great resort destinations in Europe--comparable (in my opinion) to its relatively close neighbors, Amalfi, Sorrento, and Capri. Spectacular views down the coast, with slow-capped Mt. Etna in the background. A wonderful amphitheatre built by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago that has this spectacular coastal view as a backdrop. Also, you can enjoy the world-class shops along the main street, and also take comfort in the fact that you have a ship to return to and therefore cannot rent a $350/night room in one of the 4-star hotels (smile). Plenty to do for a day, including lunch in one of the many restaurants.
This was one of Europe's early destinations for a Grand Tour, with people of wealth coming here at least since the 1830s. It's still just as overwhelming as it was then, and considerably easier to reach.
The ship will almost certainly have a tour to Taormina, but I wanted to stress that many people can do it on their own if they choose.
When you leave the cruise ship you will be bombarded with taxis offering to take you to Taormina. There were four of us, and we first balked, but the more we balked the cheaper the trip became.
I think the total time spent was around 4 hours, and the taxi driver took us to Taormina, gave us a VERY quick orientation and then said he'd be back at a given time. We were momentarily concerned over whether he'd show up, but then realized we hadn't paid him anything yet!
It was a good trip - as you walk up toward the forum, there is a little road that angles down toward the right where there are some shops. We had some to die for cannoli from one of them, and bought some nougat that was delicious.
The driver reappeared and took us back to town, actually dropping us at the duomo, from where it was a fairly quick walk back to the ship.
I can't remember exactly what we paid, but I think it was around EU100, which for four of us was much less that a tour booked onboard would have cost.
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I echo the replies about Taormina. Messina is much more industrial and crowded than some of the finer cities in Italy and Sicily.
Taormina is much more of a gem. You can easily get lost there wandering among the shops, restaurants and WWII remnants overlooking the ocean. A truly enchanting city.
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I heartily recommend TAORMINA. My husband and I were on a cruise too that stopped in Messina and we took the local train to Taormina. Train station is at the end of the boardwalk away from where the ships dock, about a 15 minute walk. If you find others on the ship to share a taxi with all the better, but bargain hard. It will be easier than the train. Been to Taormina around three times and it's CHARMING. Wonderful little shops and restaurants behind the main street with breathtaking views of the area. Get out of Messina! I've been everywhere in the Med and this is one of the lovliest. Have a great day there. Yellamo
