Messina area and Nebrodi Park
Tourist Attractions
Cities of art, picturesque seaside villages, ancient mountain villages, unspoiled nature and a fabulous sea make Messina and the Nebrodi Park an essential destination for your holiday in Sicily.
In your travel through the beauties of the Messina area and the Nebrodi Park you can admire the largest and most complex mechanical watch to the world, discover the splendid castles that dot this area, stroll through the narrow and
winding cobbled streets of the mountain villages, be fascinated by the colors and scents of the splendid seaside villages that follow one another along the coast, explore evocative landscapes steeped in art, history and mystery, immerse yourself in the waters
clear and crystalline of this splendid Sicilian sea.
How many days does it take to visit the area of Messina and the Nebrodi Park? If you are planning your holiday in Sicily, you may decide to spend a couple days or a weekend to visit the main attractions of the Messina area and the Nebrodi Park or, if ou have the opportunity, dedicate a few more days to visiting this area, thus having the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of its many monuments, to experience the surreal atmosphere of its ancient villages and the atmosphere of celebration and holiday in seaside villages, to immerse yourself in the magnificence of its nature and the enchantment of its sea.
An obligatory stop on your itinerary to discover the Messina area is the city of the strait: Messina. The city of Messina has very ancient roots, great cultural heritages value and boasts the largest and most complex mechanical astronomical clock in the world.
Discover all tourist attractions in Messina:
What to see in Messina?
In the area of Messina and the Nebrodi Park you can discover some fascinating places particular, suggestive places where nature blends with history, mystery and art.
This is the case of Argimusco, one of the most mysterious and evocative places in the whole of Sicily, a complex of millenary rocks with anthropomorphic shapes and zoomorphic whose origin is still shrouded in mystery today.
Another original combination of nature and art is offered by Fiumara d’arte, a picturesque open-air museum consisting of a series of twelve works by contemporary artists.
Other Land art work present in the Messina area are the Sentinels of the suburban park of Buticari, guardians of the tracks of the history of the island.
There are many villages that dot the peaks of the Messina hinterland. Imposing castles, ancient and sumptuous monuments, narrow cobbled streets and leaning houses are some of the distinctive elements of these villages.
Lively seaside villages dot the coasts of the Messina area. Castles that dominate the sea, important sanctuaries that rise solemnly on high cliffs, colored tiles that decorate streets, houses and squares.
The unspoiled nature of the Nebrodi Park is another reason to visit this onewonderful area of Sicily.
Splendid panoramas, dense woods, small lakes, suggestive waterfalls enrich these places and offer the visitor the opportunity to practice numerous sports in close contact with nature: trekking, biking, quad biking, horseback riding and trekking,...
Discover all attractions in the Nebrodi Park:
What to see in Nebrodi Park?
Another reason to visit the Messina area is to enjoy its splendid sea. Large beaches that offer every type of service to the bather alternate with small, rich hidden corners of great charm.
To discover all the places to visit and all the attractions of the Messina area select the locality of your interest from the top menu.
Towns and Villages
Towns and Villages to visit in Messina surroundings and in the Nebrodi Park
Acquedolci Alcara li Fusi Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto Brolo Capizzi Capo d'Orlando Castanea delle Furie Gioiosa Marea Messina Milazzo Militello Rosmarino Monforte San Giorgio Montalbano Elicona Naso Nizza di Sicilia Novara di Sicilia Parco dei Nebrodi Piraino Rodì Milici San Filippo Del Mela San Fratello Sant'Angelo Di Brolo Santa Lucia Del Mela Santo Stefano di Camastra Saponara Terme Vigliatore Tindari
Events
Things to do to have fun in the Messina Area and in the villages of Nebrodi Park.
Traditional and Religious Festivals, Historical reenactments, Exhibitions, Musical enterteinment, Sport events, guided Tour,...
Typical Products
The agri-food excellence of the Nebrodi Park and the ancient culinary tradition of the Messina area, alone constitute a valid reason to visit the area of Messina and the Nebrodi Park.
The rich and genuine agri-food production is accompanied by the ancient culinary tradition of the Messina area.
Some typical Sicilian dishes, known throughout Italy, were born in the Messina area and alone in these places they are still prepared according to the ancient original recipe.
This is the case with Pasta 'Ncasciata and Stocco alla Messinese, two dishes from the ancient Sicilian tradition. Many other dishes that enrich the tables of
Messina and the Nebrodi area, on the other hand, arise from a reinterpretation of classic recipes.
The confectionery tradition of the Messina area offers a series of dishes rich in tradition and goodness.
Discover the dishes and typical products of the Messina area and the Parco dei Nebrodi and where you can taste them by selecting the place of your interest in the top menu.
Handicrafts
Typical handicrafts items of the Messina area
If you want to keep a souvenir of your holiday in Sicily, you will have the opportunity to buy in the area of Messina and the Nebrodi Park many typical Sicilian handicraft products: Sicilian ceramics, Sicilian puppets, Sicilian carts, tambourines, the Marranzani, the Sicilian quartare and whistles, the Sicilian coffees and flat caps, jewels and typical Sicilian clothing. In particular, however, the area of Messina and the Nebrodi Park has been able to preserve and pass on ancient arts that still today they live in artisanal productions.
Among the main artisan productions of the Messina area, craftsmanship stands out of wrought iron. The processing of wrought iron had one of its most important centers in Tortorici and, in over the years, it has seen a shift of the production nuclei towards the coastal areas with the greatest tourist traffic where the artistic artefacts in wrought iron have now become highly sought after objects.
A very particular and less and less widespread form of art is production artistic-handcrafted of Sicilian knives. Originally this was a very flourishing business in San Fratello and in other municipalities in the Messina area, today the new generations have progressively abandoned this type of processing and the artisanal production of the Sicilian knife resists only thanks to the ability and tenacity of some skilled people master blacksmiths craftsmen.
Another very flourishing craft activity in the Messina area is ceramics. The pottery of Santo Stefano di Camastra and the pottery of Patti are renowned. The pottery of Santo Stefano di Camastra is characterized by floral motifs and bright colors with colors ranging from cobalt blue honey yellow and red. Patti's ceramics have the peculiarity of having been linked to the production of pots, the "Pignate", of dishes, with the characteristic drawing of a rooster depicted in a standing position, facing left, and jugs.
Discover all the typical handicrafted items of the Messina area and where you can buy them by selecting the locality of your interest from the top menu.
Interesting Facts
Interesting and fun facts, traditions, legends, folk tales to know about Messina area and Nebrodi Park
After having admired the colors, tasted the flavors and listened to the sounds, to immerse yourself in the most authentic Sicily and to fully enjoy your holiday in the area of Messina and the Nebrodi Park, we would like accompany you in the discovery of some interesting facts that will allow you to perceive the Sicilian that permeates every place. Learn about the customs, legends, curiosities, interesting facts of Messina and the "Parco dei Nebrodi" will allow you to discover the origin of ancient traditions, the legend that surrounds the birth of a village, the mystery hidden in a strange symbol that has watched over ancient walls for centuries...
Curiosities about Muzzuni"
Muzzuni is a cult object full of ancient ritual values and the Muzzuni festival in Alcara Li Fusi is the oldest pagan festival in Italy...
Capo d'Orlando and Greek mythology
According to Greek mythology, Capo D'Orlando was founded by Agatirso, son of the king of the winds Aeolus...
The Eye of Milazzo
On the medieval walls of the castel of Milazzo stands a strange design with the stylized shape of a scarab, the Eye of Milazzo...
For centuries, crossing the Strait of Messina represented a real challenge for heroes and sailors.
Around the strait and its waters, myths and legends were born that still fill the islands with charm today
waters that separate Sicily from the rest of Italy.
Among the Sicilian myths and legends that of Scilla and Cariddi is certainly among the most famous.
It tells of two monstrous creatures that inhabit the strait, but theirs is a long and interesting one story made of love, rejection and jealousy.
Another ancient Sicilian story that takes place in the waters of the strait is that of Colapesce, a man who loved the sea and his Sicily so much to the point of sacrificing his own life. It is said that even today Colapesce supports one of the three columns that keep the island afloat on his shoulder.
The Strait of Messina is also linked to the figure of the Morgana fairy thanks to tradition of the Sicilian puppet theater. In the Sicilian Norman version of the legend of Arthur's death, the Fata Morgana finds its abode in the waters of the strait.
Legend of Scilla and Cariddi
The legend of Scilla and Charybdis tells of mythological deeds of gods and mortals in the stretch of water of the Strait of Messina...
Colapesce legend
The legend of Colapesce is an ancient Sicilian story that tells the story of a young man from Capo Peloro, with a passion for the sea...
Morgana fairy and the Strait of Messina
A trick of the cunning Fata Morgana makes Sicily and Calabria seem to touch on certain days...
If you want to know more in details other interesting facts select the locality of your interest by the top menu then go to the section what to know.
Nearby Areas
Turist areas you can visit close to Messina Area
