WHAT TO SEE IN MESSINA?

Itineraries in Messina

1) Cathedral Square and the Astronomical Clock.

The Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta or Cathedral of Messina, is the mother church of the city and stands in the historic center of Messina, with the facade and bell tower facing the wide Piazza del Duomo. The sacred building has a basilica plan with three naves, a transept and three apses facing east according to Greek custom. The treasure of the cathedral of Messina is kept and displayed in the added body on the south side of the temple, the very rich collection consists of precious objects of worship that have belonged to the cathedral since the Middle Ages, mostly silverware, the work of the renowned Messina goldsmith school. The most valuable piece of the treasure is the so-called "Golden Manta." The cathedral crypt has remained intact to this day and is composed of Romanesque arches, columns and capitals. The bell tower contains the largest concert in all of Sicily composed of no less than 8 bells! At noon, every day the famous carousel of bronze statues starts, accompanied by the sound of Schubert's Ave Maria! The bell tower also features the largest astronomical clock in the world! The square is also home to the Orion Fountain referred to as "The most beautiful fountain of 16th-century Europe."

2) Strait of Messina and Madonnina of the harbor.

The Strait of Messina is an arm of sea that separates Calabria from Sicily, connecting the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas and bathing the cities of Reggio Calabria and Messina. In ancient times it was known as the Strait of Scylla and Charybdis after the two monsters of the same name that according to legends bedeviled navigation between Calabria and Sicily. The hydrological conditions of the Strait of Messina are extraordinary, and equally special are the populations it hosts. The characteristics of the waters of the strait determine an extraordinary ecosystem, unique in the Mediterranean Sea! Making the panorama of the strait even more striking is the presence of the Stele of Our Lady of the Letter positioned in the port of Messina! The work houses on its upper end the molded statue of Our Lady of the Port holding the sacred letter.

3) Torre Faro between the Lakes of Ganzirri and the Pilone

Torre Faro is a fraction of the municipality of Messina, located on the northeastern tip of Sicily, rises at Capo Peloro, where the Strait of Messina reaches its minimum size and Calabria is only 3.6 km from Sicily. The area also includes the lakes of Ganzirri: one of the most scientifically interesting lagoon systems in Italy and is protected by a nature and landscape constraint. In the Ganzirri district is the Lago Grande or Pantano Grande connected to the Lago Piccolo or Pantano Piccolo by the Margi Canal. Ganzirri Lake is also directly connected to the Ionian Sea, while Torre Faro Lake is connected to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Renowned throughout Sicily both for its traditional shellfish activity and as a popular resort area in the Strait, for the past few years Lake Ganzirri has been included in the area of the Capo Peloro Lagoon Oriented Nature Reserve. On the tip of Torre Faro also stands the Strait Pylon, a disused pylon of the high-tension power line one of the most representative symbols of Messina and the Strait.

4) Taormina, the Ancient Theater and Isola Bella

Taormina is one of the most prominent international tourist centers in the Sicilian region, known for its natural landscape, marine beauty and historical monuments. It is situated on a hilltop 206 m above sea level, suspended between rocks and the sea, on a terrace of Mount Tauro, in a setting of natural beauty, unique in variety and contrasts, on the southern slopes of the Peloritani Mountains of the Ionian Riviera with Mount Etna in the background. The ancient theater of Taormina is the second largest ancient theater in Sicily, after the Greek theater of Syracuse. The original layout dates back to the 3rd century B.C., and since the 1950s the theater has been used for various forms of entertainment ranging from theater to concerts, from David di Donatello award ceremonies to symphony concerts, from opera to ballet. The theater turns out to be carved into the rock, and the scene has the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna as its backdrop. It has a maximum diameter of 109 meters and a height of about 20 meters. The cavea is divided into nine sectors by eight staircases that allow spectators access. Isola Bella is a protected natural area located in the municipality of Taormina, also called "the pearl of the Mediterranean," was purchased in 1890 by Florence Trevelyan, who enhanced it by building a cottage there and planting rare fine essences, non-native species and rare shrubs. The reserve contains a marine environment of great variety with seabeds rich in shipwrecks and archaeological finds.

5) Capo d’Orlando

Capo d'Orlando is a predominantly tourist and commercial center in the Nebrodi district, which developed as a fishing village. Much of the town lies mainly along a narrow plain, enclosed between the sea and a hilly strip that runs parallel to it. During the summer period, the population of Capo d'Orlando increases significantly, to double its present number of inhabitants. On the rock of Capo d'Orlando is located the shrine of Mary Most Holy next to the remains of the castle. Its foundation is linked to a series of extraordinary events, attributed to a statue of Our Lady left, as legend has it, by St. Cone to the keepers of the Capo tower, which was brought at first to Naso, was later brought back with imposing procession to the promontory in the newly completed sanctuary on October 22 of that year. Along the eastern shoreline we find, the splendid village of San Gregorio, protagonist of the song Sapore di sale by Gino Paoli.

6) Tindari and the Nature Reserve of the small lakes of Marinello

Tìndari is a hamlet of Patti located on a coastal promontory that juts out, from a height of 268 m, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Marinello Lakes Oriented Nature Reserve. The reserve at the foot of the promontory is connected to the sacred area and archaeological park by a path called Coda di Volpe, a pilgrimage route to the Marian shrine. The shrine of Tindari, is located at the eastern end of the promontory, overlooking the sea, at the ancient acropolis, where a small church had been built on the remains of the abandoned city. Devotion to the "Matri 'u Tinnaru" is undoubtedly among the oldest Marian devotions in Sicily, widespread and celebrated virtually throughout the island. The statue of the Black Madonna, carved from cedar wood, comes from Egypt. The remains of the ancient city can be found in the archaeological area, in a fair state of preservation, along with the theater, which was built in Greek forms at the end of the 4th century BC and later remodeled in Roman times. At the base of the promontory is a sandy area with a series of small pools of water, the shape of which changes as a result of the movements of the sand, driven by the sea storms. The beach is known as Marinello and several legends are linked to it. According to one of them, the beach was miraculously formed following the fall of a little girl from the terrace of the sanctuary, who was later found safe and sound on the beach that had just been created by the retreat of the sea. The child's mother, a pilgrim who had come from afar, would, as a result of the miracle, reconsider the true miraculous nature of the sculpture, which she had doubted because of the Virgin's dark complexion.

7) Montalbano d'Elicona and the Megaliths of Argimusco.

Montalbano Elicona is a town that is part of the circuit of the most beautiful villages in Italy and was proclaimed "borgo dei borghi 2015." It is characterized by the presence, in the ancient part of the town, of a medieval castle that was the summer residence of King Frederick III of Sicily. The oldest part of the castle was built by the Normans; inside the manor is the Palatine Chapel of the Holy Trinity, an exclusive privilege of the sovereigns. In the municipality of Montalbano Elicona also falls the site Megaliti d'Argimusco: a plateau that lies just north of Etna, roughly on the border between the Nebrodi and Peloritani mountains. The plateau is very scenic in that both Mount Etna and the Aeolian Islands can be seen up close. Numerous sandstone cliffs shaped in curious and striking forms rise in this area. The stones possess peculiar shapes, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic, the nature of which is to be associated with wind erosion although popular tradition attributes them to ancient human intervention.

8) Milazzo e Capo Milazzo

Milazzo was founded by the Greeks around 716 BC and stands at the beginning of a peninsula about 8 km long (Capo Milazzo) in the Tyrrhenian Sea. A first monument of great interest in Milazzo is the ancient cathedral located within the walled city. Towering over the ancient village of Milazzo is the largest existing fortified citadel in Sicily: the castle of Milazzo, also known as the Fortified Citadel of Milazzo. The castle was among the favorite dwellings of King Frederick II of Swabia, when in Sicily he wanted to be away from the convulsive Palermitan court life in the Norman Palace. At the end of the cape is the Capo Milazzo Promontory Marine Reserve with the wonderful pool of Venus. At the end of the promontory, there is the Sanctuary of St. Anthony of Padua, a real rock shelter, where the saint found shelter after being shipwrecked on that coast in January 1221 and later transformed into a place of worship.

9) Fiumara of art and Pyramid 38″ Parallel

The Fiumara d'arte is an open-air museum consisting of a series of twelve works by contemporary artists located along the banks of the Tusa River near the town of Tusa, which formerly flowed through the Nebrodi Mountains to the ancient city of Halaesa. The fiumara was born when in 1982 Antonio Presti commissioned Pietro Consagra to create the first sculpture, The Matter Might Not Be There. Over the years, the works increased until March 21, 2010, when the work Pyramid 38th Parallel was inaugurated: a hollow titanic tetrahedron, made of Corten steel, built on a rise in the territory of Motta d'Affermo, overlooking the sea and as the crow flies opposite the excavations of the ancient city of Halaesa. At the point where it was built, the Pyramid is in axis with the 38th parallel.

10) Galati and the Catafurco Falls

Galati Mamertino is a municipality in the Nebrodi Park; it is a mostly agricultural center that boasts numerous treasures and still retains an urban layout typical of medieval neighborhoods. The area is home to the Catafurco waterfall, a natural cascade that forms at a drop of about 30 m along the course of the San Basilio stream in the Nebrodi Park in the territory of Galati Mamertino. At the base of the waterfall the waters collect in a natural cavity, carved into the rock, called Marmitta dei Giganti, where, in fine weather, it is possible to bathe.

11) Mount Soro and Lake Maulazzo

Mount Soro is the highest peak of the Nebrodi Mountains from its summit it is possible to see from north to south the Aeolian Islands and Mount Etna, to the east the Serra del Re relief that occludes the view to the Peloritani Mountains, to the southwest Mount Altesina on the Erei Mountains, and to the west the Nebrodi chain and the Madonie Mountains. In winter it is among the first peaks on the island to be covered by snow that can sometimes last from November until April. On the slopes of Mount Soro lies Lake Maulazzo (or Maullazzo), a reservoir of about 5 hectares of considerable natural and scenic importance, set in the superb beech forest of Sollazzo Verde. This lake offers beautiful scenery, with colors and atmospheres that change throughout the seasons, and is especially popular with photography enthusiasts.

12) Mistretta and the Valley of the Waterfalls

Mistretta is a town in the Nebrodi Park in an area rich in game and famous since ancient times for its naturalistic splendor. The panorama that can be admired from the highest parts of the town is spectacular: from the wooded mountains one's gaze descends to the sea, with the Aeolian Islands in the background. If you add to this the fact that during the winter the village is covered with snow, the scenery you can witness is truly enchanting. About four kilometers from the town, in the valley below Montepiano, the ancient town of Mistretta has a nature site consisting of a relevant number of waterfalls of various sizes, active mainly from autumn until late spring. The highest among them, is located in the Pietrebianche district and reaches over 33 meters, within a radius of less than 500 meters from the largest, there are six others, each with its own characteristic conformation.

13) Castelmola

Castelmola is an enchanting village that is one of the most picturesque in Italy. This mainly tourism-oriented locality owes its fame to its proximity to Taormina. The town is located on a hill overlooking the Ionian Sea, and is characterised by an intimate and well-preserved atmosphere. To reach the highest point, it is necessary to walk along a path from the town's main square, called Piazza Sant'Antonino, to the ruins of a castle. The square is overlooked by a belvedere that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Ionian coast, the city of Taormina, the sea and the Calabrian coast. The imposing Norman walls are all that remains of the fortress known as Mola Castle, the exact date of which remains uncertain. For centuries, Mola Castle was the key strategic point in the Peloritani defence chain, along with the castles of Milazzo, Ficarra, Tripi, Castroreale, Castiglione and Francavilla. It was an obligatory stop for the various conquerors who wished to take control of the territory. The mother church, rebuilt between 1934 and 1935 on the foundations of the previous cathedral, is dedicated to St Nicholas of Bari. Architecturally, it presents a mixture of styles ranging from Romanesque to Gothic, from Arab to Norman.

14) Fountain of Orion

The Fountain of Orion, a Renaissance jewel in the heart of Messina, has stood in Piazza Duomo since 1553 and is considered one of the most beautiful 16th-century fountains in Europe. The work of Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, a pupil of Michelangelo, with the collaboration of Domenico Vanello, it was created to celebrate a milestone in the city’s history: the construction of Messina’s first aqueduct, which carried the clear waters of the Camaro and Bordonaro streams. The fountain narrates the legend of Orion, the mythical founder of Messina, depicted at the top of the pyramidal structure with his faithful dog Sirius at his feet. Around him, mythological and symbolic figures are harmoniously arranged: putti riding dolphins, naiads and tritons, basins adorned with sea creatures and aquatic monsters. In the large dodecagonal basin, four statues stand out, representing the Nile, Tiber, Ebro, and Camaro rivers, each accompanied by Latin verses composed by the Messinese humanist Francesco Maurolico. Completing the decoration is a series of bas-reliefs inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, blending myth with water symbolism. Crafted in fine Carrara marble, the fountain was not only an artistic masterpiece but also a powerful political and cultural symbol, designed to celebrate Messina’s grandeur. Admired since its completion—so much so that the city senate also commissioned Montorsoli to build the Fountain of Neptune—the Fountain of Orion remains today one of the highest expressions of the Renaissance in Sicily and one of the city’s most beloved landmarks.

15) Giardini Naxos

Giardini Naxos, overlooking the eastern Sicilian sea, is one of the island’s most popular seaside resorts, located just a short distance from Taormina. Its name recalls the memory of the ancient Greek colony of Naxos, founded in the 8th century BC by settlers from Euboea, and of the “Giardini” (gardens) that once surrounded the village. The site has a long and layered history: in Roman times, Naxos was a way station along the consular road to Syracuse; during the Byzantine era, it served as a strategic port for Taormina; while Arab rule left its mark in place names still in use today, such as the nearby Alcantara River. In the 15th century, amid fertile fields and the scent of sugarcane, the town began to build defensive towers and a castle at Capo Schisò. In 1847, it gained autonomy from Taormina, and just over a decade later, it played a role in Italian unification—Garibaldi departed from its bay in August 1860 with his men bound for Calabria. Between the 19th and 20th centuries, Giardini lived off agriculture, fishing, and handicrafts, before seaside tourism reshaped its identity. Today, its seafront is lined with beaches, restaurants, and hotels that attract visitors from around the world, drawn by its crystal-clear waters and proximity to Taormina. The heart of the old town is Corso Umberto, an elegant promenade linking squares and churches, such as the Mother Church of Santa Maria Raccomandata and the Church of San Pancrazio. Symbols of the town include Schisò Castle, overlooking the bay, and the bronze statue of the Nike of Kalkis, erected in 1965 to celebrate the twinning with Chalcis, homeland of the Greek colonists. Not to be missed is the Archaeological Park of Naxos, where remains of walls and temples recall the grandeur of Sicily’s first Greek colony. Giardini Naxos is truly a gateway to myth: a place where history and legend merge with the sea, the sun, and the vibrant spirit of its people.

16) Novara di Sicilia

Novara di Sicilia, a small village nestled between the Nebrodi and Peloritani mountains, lies at the foot of the majestic Rocca Salvatesta, offering one of the most breathtaking views in Sicily. Its origins date back to prehistory, with evidence of rock settlements, but it was in the Middle Ages that the town took on its current form, shaped first by the Berbers who built its castle and later by the Normans, who settled a Lombard colony here. Equally important was the arrival of Cistercian monks led by Saint Hugh, who in the 12th century founded the Abbey of Santa Maria Nucaria. The historic center preserves churches and landmarks of great charm: the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, with its three naves and precious works of art; the intimate 13th-century Church of San Francesco; and the Annunziata, which houses a refined 16th-century marble group. Among the civic buildings, Palazzo Stancanelli and Casa Fontana stand out as testaments to the town’s renowned stonemasonry tradition. Today, Novara is a stone village that tells of centuries of history and faith, an evocative and quiet place where one can experience the authenticity of hidden Sicily.

17) Alcantara Gorges

The Alcantara Gorges, one of Sicily’s most spectacular natural wonders, are located in the valley of the same name, between the towns of Castiglione di Sicilia and Motta Camastra. Here, over millennia, the Alcantara River carved through lava rock to create a stunning canyon, with walls up to 25 meters high and in places only a couple of meters wide. What makes this landscape unique is the shape of the columnar basalts: lava, cooling rapidly in contact with water, formed extraordinary natural geometries resembling organ pipes, harps, or stacks of wood. The most famous section is in Contrada Larderia, where the gorges stretch for about 400 meters with dizzying walls reaching nearly 50 meters high. Walking along the river, visitors enter an almost surreal world where water and rock have conversed for millennia, creating reflections and light effects that artists and travelers have long tried to capture. In 2010, the site was recognized as a European Destination of Excellence (EDEN). Today, the gorges are a major tourist attraction, accessible on foot or via river trekking excursions, but they remain above all a masterpiece of nature—a living testament to the combined force of volcano and water that sculpted a one-of-a-kind landscape.

18) Nebrodi Park

The Nebrodi Park is Sicily’s largest green reserve, established in 1993 and extending across the provinces of Messina, Catania, and Enna. Here nature reveals a side of the island far from the usual imagery: imposing peaks such as Mount Soro (1,847 m), endless oak and beech forests, serene lakes like Maulazzo and Biviere, waterfalls, and wild cliffs such as the Rocche del Crasto. The beech woods of the Nebrodi are among the southernmost in Europe and shelter rare plants like Petagnaea gussonei. Overhead soar griffon vultures and golden eagles, while in the pastures roam the black Nebrodi pigs—icons of a culinary tradition that includes cured meats, cheeses, and dishes rooted in pastoral life. Between nature, villages, and ancient flavors, the Nebrodi Park is an authentic place where time seems to slow, and Sicily reveals its most secret.

19) The Ceramics of Santo Stefano di Camastra

Santo Stefano di Camastra, known as the “City of Ceramics,” is a picturesque village on Sicily’s Tyrrhenian coast, nestled between the sea and the Nebrodi mountains. Today home to just over 4,000 inhabitants, the town takes its name from the Norman church of Santo Stefano in Val Demone, while the title “di Camastra” honors Duke Giuseppe Lanza, who oversaw its reconstruction after the devastating landslide of 1682. The village is famous across Sicily for its centuries-old tradition of artistic ceramics, still alive in workshops where artisans handcraft vases, plates, majolica tiles, colorful Moorish heads, and pinecone-shaped good-luck charms. Walking through the streets, visitors find ceramic decorations adorning churches, palaces, and even squares, transforming the town into an open-air museum. This heritage is celebrated at the Civic Museum of Ceramics inside the grand Palazzo Trabia, which preserves the memory and techniques passed down through generations. Beyond ceramics, Santo Stefano also boasts traditions tied to fishing, agriculture—citrus fruits, olives, and vegetables—and shepherding, producing genuine and authentic flavors. From the natural terrace where the town stands, sweeping views open onto the blue Tyrrhenian and the green surrounding mountains, creating vistas of rare beauty. It is a place where art, tradition, and landscape blend together, continuing to enchant visitors with vivid colors and warm Sicilian hospitality.

20) Brolo and the Medieval Castle

Brolo Castle, with its imposing medieval tower, still dominates the town and tells a story where history and legend intertwine. Mentioned as early as 1094 under the Arabic name Voab (“marine fortress”), it served for centuries as a strategic outpost guarding the coast and controlling maritime trade routes to the Aeolian Islands. Built by the Lancia family in the 15th century, it preserves its walls, two gateways, a courtyard with an elegant well, and a powerful four-story keep connected by a spiral staircase. From the great hall, one reaches the famous panoramic balcony offering spectacular views over the Saracen coast and as far as Capo Calavà. Linked to this balcony is the legend of Maria la Bella, a princess in love who awaited her young suitor, tragically slain by her jealous brother. It is said her spirit still watches over fishermen, blessing their catches or warning them back to shore during storms. Thus, Brolo Castle remains a place of history and enchantment, suspended between myth and reality.

21) Oliveri

Oliveri, overlooking the gulf of the same name at the foot of Mount Tindari, preserves an ancient and fascinating history. The Arab geographer al-Idrisi described it as “a charming hamlet with a large castle by the sea, fertile lands, mills, and a tuna-rich harbor.” For centuries, its famous tuna fishery was among the most important in Sicily, active until the 1960s. The town’s name likely derives from the knight Carlo Oliveris, remembered by locals for his courtesy. The earliest settlement arose on Mount Tindari, founded by the Dorians, later passing to the Romans—who prized its rich waters—and subsequently to the Benedictine monks of Patti. In the 14th century, Ferdinand of Aragon granted the fief, castle, and tuna fishery to his son. Becoming an independent municipality in the early 19th century, Oliveri today thrives on tourism while retaining its vibrant character. Among its landmarks are the medieval castle of Arab origin overlooking the town, and the churches of San Giuseppe and the Nativity, central to local devotion. Its beaches and nearby lagoons continue to enchant visitors, just as they did Alexis de Tocqueville, who stopped here during his 19th-century Sicilian journey.

22) Church of the Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani

The Church of Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani is one of Messina's architectural gems and one of the city's most precious medieval landmarks. It was built between 1150 and 1200, probably on the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to Neptune, confirming the historical and religious continuity of the site. In the past, it was also known as Annunziata di Castellammare due to its proximity to the fortress that defended the port and the dock. Over the centuries, it underwent several alterations: in the 13th century, after an earthquake, the church was shortened and the façade moved back. It was then that the three portals that still characterize it today were added, with the central portal surmounted by the Aragonese coat of arms. The result is a combination of elements that blend different styles: late Romanesque in the capitals, Byzantine influences in the jambs, and classical references in the minor portals. The interior reveals this dialogue between cultures even more clearly. The columns and capitals evoke Arabic influences, the corrugation of the triumphal arch reflects Arab-Byzantine models, while the tall windows and dome are inspired by the Norman-Lombard tradition. The main nave, covered by a barrel vault with a clear Byzantine influence, adds another piece to this architectural mosaic. It is precisely this mixture that makes the Church of the Catalans unique: a building that preserves traces of different worlds—Latin, Byzantine, and Arab—and which, in its harmony, better than many other works, recounts the cosmopolitan character of medieval Sicily.

23) Regional Interdisciplinary Museum 

The Interdisciplinary Regional Museum of Messina, also known as “MuMe,” is the heart of the city's artistic memory and one of Sicily's most important cultural centers. It is housed in a complex that combines the evocative former Mellinghoff spinning mill from the late 19th century, now used for temporary exhibitions, and the ancient Basilian monastery of San Salvatore dei Greci, which houses the permanent exhibition. After a long series of restoration and adaptation works, the museum now presents itself as a modern and functional space, capable of providing the public with a comprehensive overview of Messina's figurative art from the 12th to the 18th century. Its rooms house paintings, sculptures, art objects, and decorative artifacts, including masterpieces by internationally renowned artists such as Antonello da Messina, Caravaggio, and Francesco Laurana. The museum itinerary follows a precise chronological order, made even more intuitive by a color system that accompanies visitors through the artistic eras: blue introduces the Middle Ages, green the Early Renaissance, yellow the High Renaissance, red Mannerism, brown Caravaggio and his followers, purple the 17th century, orange the 18th century and finally pink the 19th century. In this way, a visit to the MuMe becomes a veritable journey through art history, which not only preserves treasures of inestimable value but also restores Messina's central role as a cultural crossroads of the Mediterranean.

24) Villafranca Tirrena

Villafranca Tirrena, formerly known as Briosa and then as Bauso, is a small town overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, located a few kilometers from Messina. Its history dates back to the Norman era and reached its peak in the 16th century, when the Cottone family made it an important feudal center, rebuilding the castle that still dominates the town today. Elevated to a county and then a principality, Villafranca enjoyed centuries of prosperity until it became an autonomous municipality in 1825, taking its current name only in 1929. For most of the 20th century, it was one of the most important industrial centers in the province of Messina, with factories such as Italcementi and Pirelli, which shaped the economic and social life of the area. With the closure of the large industries, the local economy gradually shifted towards trade and tourism, while maintaining its productive vocation. From an artistic and cultural point of view, the village boasts treasures such as the Mother Church of San Nicolò, with its precious 16th-century cross and marble statue of the Madonna and Child. In the hillside hamlet of Calvaruso stands the Sanctuary of Gesù Ecce Homo, home to important works of art and a rich Museum of Devotion. Also worthy of note are the Church of Santa Margherita, with 16th-century frescoes and panels, and the Ottavio Badessa Museum of Medicine, which preserves medical instruments dating from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Today Villafranca Tirrena is a lively town which, with its history, art, and new economic activities, continues to renew itself without forgetting its roots.

25) Roman Villa of Patti

The Roman Villa of Patti Marina, dating back to the early 4th century AD, was discovered by chance in 1973 during work on the Messina-Palermo motorway. It stands at the foot of the hills where the current town of Patti is located and is one of the most important archaeological sites in the area. The complex is built around a large quadrangular peristyle, adorned with a portico and splendid polychrome mosaics depicting geometric patterns and laurel garlands. Around it are the private and reception rooms, among which the three-sided triclinium stands out, embellished with an intricate mosaic floor. The villa also had a thermal bath complex, with suspensurae, channels, and pools, evidence of the luxury and refinement of the time. Inside the archaeological area is the Antiquarium, which preserves finds and materials from the excavations, offering visitors a journey through the different historical phases and transformations of the site.

26) Rometta

Nestled in the Peloritani Mountains and overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, Rometta is a village of ancient origins that boasts a history of great strategic and cultural importance. The first traces of life date back to the Neolithic and Iron Ages, but it was during the Byzantine era that the town really came into its own: from the 5th century AD, it became a refuge for people fleeing invasions and soon turned into a real fortress town, controlling access to the Messina plain. It is no coincidence that Rometta was the last Byzantine stronghold to resist the Arab advance, falling heroically after a long siege in 965. The village preserves precious evidence of its past. Among the main monuments are the Byzantine-style church of Santa Maria dei Cerei, with a Greek cross plan, built between the 5th and 6th centuries, and the mother church of Maria Santissima Assunta, which houses a 16th-century painting of the Madonna and Child. Also worth mentioning are the smaller churches, such as that of Madonna della Scala and the Capuchin convent, as well as the remains of the Palatium Federiciano, once a fortified palace and noble residence. In the surrounding area, the charming rural village of Pantano, now abandoned but undergoing restoration, and the coastal hamlet of Rometta Marea, with the church of Sant'Antonio di Padova, are also worth mentioning. Rometta, with its intertwining Byzantine, Arab, and Norman history, remains one of the most historically rich places in northeastern Sicily. In the surrounding area, the charming rural village of Pantano, now abandoned but undergoing restoration, and the coastal hamlet of Rometta Marea, with its church of Sant'Antonio di Padova, are worth mentioning. Rometta, with its intertwining Byzantine, Arab, and Norman history, remains one of the most historically rich places in northeastern Sicily.