The last of the three districts overlooking Mount Etna is Messina. This one extends along half of Sicily’s northern coast, nestled between the beaches and the high mountains of Nebrodi and Peloritani. Wild nature is an integral part of the Messina area, with breathtaking landscapes and medieval villages that partly overlook the great volcano. Mount Etna, like the Alcantara River, is not part of Messina’s territory but somehow marks its border. And it’s a border that offers a spectacular show when an eruption is underway.

Enchanting Messina

The district of Messina is centered around the city of the same name, overlooking the strait that connects the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, in front of the eastern coast of Calabria. Messina is a tenacious and enchanting city. Tenacious because it started all over again several times after earthquakes, the last—terrible!— one in 1908, followed by a devastating tsunami.

This is why Messina has almost no historic buildings left, except those recovered from the rubble and those built in the early 20th century. The skill of its architects, however, has allowed some medieval monuments to be rebuilt exactly as they were before the earthquake. These include the beautiful Messina Cathedral, for example, in Norman-Gothic style; the Annunziata dei Catalani church, restored almost intact in its Arab-Norman style; the Shrine of Christ King; the Sanctuary of Montalto; Palace Zanca; the Galleria covered mall; and the Palace Dello Zodiaco. Also worth visiting is the Regional Museum, which contains notable masterpieces of Sicilian art. Messina’s monumental fountains are another fascinating itinerary.

Visiting the District of Messina

Messina can be reached by sea, with ferry and cruise ship docks located right in the historic center, or by car from Palermo (A20 motorway) and Catania (A18 motorway). The most famous towns in the province, besides the capital, are Taormina, Giardini Naxos, Milazzo, and the Aeolian Islands.

But among the charming seaside towns in the Messina area, we also find Villafranca, Patti, Capo d’Orlando, and Santo Stefano Camastra. The other side of the coin are the inland towns, clinging to the mountains and forests, such as Montalbano Elicona, Floresta, Motta Camastra, Cesarò, Mistretta, and Tusa.

Messina and Mount Etna

The towns in the Messina district offering spectacular views of Mount Etna are mostly the inland villages, located atop the mountains and facing south. The most famous (and closest) view is from Taormina and Castelmola, although the pier in Giardini Naxos also offers a great view. Mount Etna can be admired from Savoca, Motta Camastra, Francavilla, and Cesarò.

If you visit the fascinating Argimusco plateau, dotted with prehistoric monoliths near Montalbano Elicona, you’ll enjoy an excellent view of the volcano amidst the wild nature.

Incredible as it may seem, you can also see the summit of Etna from the western beaches of Milazzo. And if you climb to the top of the crater of Vulcano or Monte Fossa delle Felci on Salina (Aeolian Islands), you’ll be able to see the profile of Etna in the distance. (PHOTO BY GRAZIA MUSUMECI)