This is the most popular tour for visitors to Messina, combining the highlights of the city with a visit to Taormina's Greek-Roman Theater, one of the most popular attractions in Sicily.
After meeting your guide, you drive into Messina's beautiful city center. You start with a short orientation drive through Messina's main street, the Via Garibaldi, seeing the Vittorio Emanuele Theater, the Town Hall, the church of Catalani, the Court and the University. You also enjoy a panoramic drive to the Church of Cristo Re for a sweeping view of Messina and the Straits.
Next comes a walking tour highlighting the Norman Cathedral. The church was originally built in Norman times but not dedicated to the Virgin Mary until 1197. None of the Norman construction survives today except the general layout and exterior appearance, which architect Francesco Valenti reconstructed from historical documents after the devastating 1908 earthquake. Other highlights include the astronomical clock, one of the largest and most complex mechanical astronomical clocks in the world, the bell tower and the Orion Fountain.
Later this morning you visit the Messina Regional Museum, which preserves precious artistic works from the city. Its collections include civic and religious pieces, many of them rescued from buildings destroyed by the 1908 earthquake. Exhibits are arranged chronologically from the 12th to the 18th centuries and include architectural fragments, mosaics, sculpture and decorative arts.
After touring Messina you have a short lunch break (meal not included).
You then drive along the eastern edge of Sicily, sea on one side and Mt. Etna looming on the other, until you reach Taormina. The town sits on a hilltop overlooking the sea and offers some of the best scenery in Sicily. It was colonized by the Greeks in 392 BC and became a federated city of the Roman Empire in 34 BC. Today it is one of the most fashionable resorts in Sicily.
A highlight of Taormina is the Greek-Roman amphitheater, the second largest in Sicily after the one in Syracuse. Originally built by the Greeks and later expanded by the Romans, it still has near perfect acoustics and hosts music, film and dance festivals today.
After visiting Taormina, you return to Messina.
If you cannot find what you are looking for, our Messina tours and Messina Shore Excursions can also be customized to fit your needs. If you have a larger group, we can offer you a private Messina tour using a mid-size bus or full size coach. Please contact us with any questions or to receive a customized quote.
Review Location- Messina 
