Tourist information - Messina
Messina rises over the coast on a hilly area along with is 3 metres above sea-level.
Main economic activities are agriculture and also breeding as well as industry. Products mostly cultivated are cereals, forages, corn, olives, grapes, and dried fruit and also fruit generally. Breedings present are cattle, pig, horse along with sheep ones.
In the VI century B.C. the original name of Messina was Zancle that in Greek means sickle along with was referred to S. Ranieri's peninsula shape. In fact it was just in this place that the first centre was started by colonies from Calcidia. The town changed its name in the V century B.C. into Messanion after Messeni's invasion. However it again altered its name into Massana during Roman domination as well as into Msna during Arabic domination till up the current name of Messina. In 396 B.C. it had been ruined by Chartaginians and also was again constructed by Dionysus tyrant of Siracusa. In 263 B.C. it was conquered by Romans; in 843 by Arabs, then by Normans as well as Angevins.
Later it was dominated by Aragoneses as well as Spanishes as well as flourished considerably its trade. Around the XVII century Messina rebelled against the avidity of Spanish government and also, once suppressed the revolt, the town started to decay along with previous privileges were annulled and was instituted the "Cittadella". It had been a war machine for protection of the town. Messina was hit by the plague in 1743 along with by an earthquake in 1783 which seriously damaged it. In 1847 along with 1848 it took part to Risorgimento struggles. After the earthquake in 1908 the town was entirely destroyed but it was regained changing completely its previous town-planning.
The most captivating monuments are the Cathedral of Norman period, restored at the last century; the bell-tower of it that incorporates a famous astronomical clock. It was developed in Strasbourg and was unveiled in 1933. Finally there are the Fountain of Orion constructed in 1547 and also the Town Building.
Among significant persons original of Messina we cite: the famous painter Antonello from Messina (1430-1479), the astronomist Giovanni Alfonso Borelli (1608-1679), the patriot Giuseppe La Farina (1815-1863), as well as the Europeanist Gaetano Martino (1900-1967) who was chancellor at the University of Rome.
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