Messina Shore Excursion

This Messina shore tour is a condensed version of the "Best of Messina and Taormina" tour. It is provided for those clients whose ships are not in port long enough to enjoy the full day tour.

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. You will see the Vittorio Emanuele Theater, the Town Hall, the church of Catalani, the Court and the University. Plus you enjoy a panoramic drive to the Church of Cristo Re where you will stop to enjoy the breathtaking view of Messina and its Straits.

Next you enjoy a walking tour which highlights 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 remains today except the general layout and the overall exterior appearance which, after the 1908 earthquake, the architect Valenti reconstructed based on ancient documents. Other highlights include the world's largest Astronomical clock, with its 33,000 gears, the bell tower and the Orion Fountain.

Later you drive along the eastern edge of Sicily, with the sea on one side of you and Mt. Etna looming on the other, until you reach Taormina. The town is located on a hill overlooking the sea and boasts some of the best Sicilian scenery. The city was colonized by the Greeks in 403 BC and became a federated city of the Roman Empire in 34 BC. Today it is one the most chic resorts in Sicily.

A highlight of Taormina is the gorgeous Greek-Roman amphitheater, the second largest in Sicily. It was originally built by the Greeks and then renewed later by the Romans. Today it still boasts near perfect acoustics and is the setting for music, film and dance festivals.

After visiting Taormina, you return to Messina.

Mobility: Folding wheelchair OK, some sites may be inaccessible (advance notice required)