CME Cruises Visiting Messina, Sicily

Messina serves as the bustling gateway to eastern Sicily’s most celebrated treasures, offering a compelling choice between iconic excursions and authentic city life. For many, the primary draw is Taormina, a stunning hilltop town that lives up to its reputation. Its Greco-Roman theater offers one of the world's great views, framing the Ionian Sea and the often snow-capped peak of Mount Etna. Beyond the theater, Taormina’s charm unfolds along the Corso Umberto, a pedestrian-only street lined with chic boutiques, cafes, and hidden courtyards leading to breathtaking coastal overlooks. For a more elemental experience, an excursion to Mount Etna reveals the raw power of Europe's most active volcano. Ascending its slopes, the landscape transforms into a stark, lunar-like environment of black lava rock and volcanic craters. Wineries thriving in the fertile, mineral-rich soil on the volcano's lower flanks offer tastings that provide a literal taste of the terroir. However, Messina itself should not be overlooked. It presents a grittier, more workaday Sicilian reality. The city’s heart is the Piazza del Duomo, home to a magnificent Norman cathedral and the world's largest astronomical clock. Be sure to arrive just before noon to witness the captivating spectacle as its gilded bronze figures animate to tell stories from the city’s history. A short walk from the port, you can savor classic Sicilian street food like arancini or a refreshing granita, experiencing a slice of local life far from the polish of Taormina. Messina offers a genuine crossroads: choose world-famous beauty or stay for a taste of an authentic port city.