After leaving Sororento, we cruised down the Italian coast to the tip of the boot. Sicily is the large island (about ten thousand square miles) only a few miles from the mainland. The ship docked in the port of Messina, the third largest city on the island behind Palermo and Catania. The busses were all lined up waiting to take us off on our excursions.
The city has a long history of conflict and many historic buildings to see.
The octagonal tower of the 11th century Matagrifone Castle.
The Cathedral of Messina
The Church of the Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani 12 th century Norman Architecture
The Madonna della Lettera, the Patron Saint of the city, watches over the port of Messina and blesses the ships entering and leaving the harbour. She is celebrated on 3 June.
Sanctuary of della Madonna di Montalto
The island shows its volcanic origins
Here is a video looking across the harbour from the ship towards the mainland of Italy.
Most of the development is around the shoreline.
I enjoyed seeing more of the pictures and the Church in the background is beautiful. I wish I was near that Water because it looks so calming. I could sit there for hours and read and people watch and not talk to anyone.
we went on our very first cruise this past december – a short quick one planned at almost the last minute… but we enjoyed it so much and i know we will go again.. and i just realized i have a cruise expert i know!!!
Where was your December cruise and which cruise line and ship did you travel on?
Oh, it was a Carnival cruise, from Long Beach in LA (since we were heading down there to pick up my daughter from college for the winter break anyways), and we did a 4 day cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada in Mexico