Overview
The province of Messina is the 26th largest Italian province by population with 622.962 people, located in the Sicily region.
The city of Messina, with a population of approximately 234,570 residents, is located in northeastern Sicily, Italy.
Positioned on the Strait of Messina, it serves as a vital transportation hub between Sicily and mainland Italy.
Messina boasts a rich cultural heritage, blending Byzantine, Norman, and Baroque influences.
The city's main square, Piazza del Duomo, is home to the magnificent Messina Cathedral with its renowned astronomical clock. Visitors can explore the picturesque streets, visit historical landmarks such as the Fountain of Orion and the Church of Santa Maria Alemanna, and enjoy panoramic views of the strait and the surrounding mountains.
The larger Messina metropolitan area comprises 108 towns (comuni) and covers an area of 3247 km2.
The population density is 191 inhabitants per km2, making it somewhat densely populated. The male to female ratio is 1.00:1.08.
Climate
The province of Messina receives on average 252 hours of sunshine per month, or 8.4 hours of sunshine per day.
This is 6.78% more than the average for Italy and 2.95% less than the average for the region of Sicily.
Throughout the year, it rains on average 7.98 days per month, which is an ordinary amount of precipitation for an Italian province.
During the autumn and winter season, there are usually 0.15 days per month with fog and 0 cold days per month with perceived temperatures below 3°C. In the summer, there are on average 25.9 hot days per month with perceived temperatures above 30°C.
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Messina, SiciliaCost of Living
The average monthly income in Messina is around 1183.43€, which is lower than the average for Italy.
The estimated cost of living is around 1239.49€ per month for an individual or 1854.5€ per month for a family of 4.
The cost for renting a small apartment (2-3 bedrooms) in a main city area is around 648€ per month.
Overall, Messina is affordable compared to other Italian provinces.
Living in Messina is around 24.88% cheaper than the average of all Italian provinces.
Quality of Life
Healthcare
Healthcare in Messina is above average. For every 10k inhabitants, there are around 4.07 pharmacies, 11.05 general practitioners and 42.5 specialized doctors per 10k inhabitants.
Average life expectancy in Messina is 81.8 years of age.
Education
Messina has a lower-than-average percentage of high school graduates, around 52.6%; and a lower-than-average percentage of university graduates, around 19.2%.
The average number of completed years of schooling for people over 25 is 9.99, which is not far from the national average of 10.44.
There is one university in the province.
Leisure
Messina boasts a lively nightlife scene that offers a mix of traditional charm and modern entertainment. The city features a variety of bars, pubs, and clubs where locals and visitors can enjoy drinks, live music, and dancing. Messina's nightlife is known for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere, allowing guests to experience the local culture and socialize with the friendly Sicilian crowd.
Overall, Messina has somewhat decent nightlife with 2.28 bars and 4.12 restaurants per 10k inhabitants.
Crime and Safety
The province of Messina is overall very safe for expats. As of 2021, there are an average of 2606.6 reported crimes per 100k inhabitants. This is 8.08% lower than the national average.
There have been around 0.2 deadly road accidents and 11.6 serious work-related injuries per 10k people in Messina. This is respectively 62.96% less driving accidents than average and 10.08% less work accidents than average.
Car theft is reportedly 11.82% lower than average with only 62.19 cases per 100k inhabitants.
Reports of house thefts are 57.84% lower than average with 73.79 cases per 100k inhabitants.
Cases of robbery are uncommon with 73.79 reported cases per 100k inhabitants, about 48.33% less the national average.
Messina is generally a safe city for tourists, but it has a moderate crime rate due to mafia activity. The majority of crimes in Messina are related to mafia operations rather than directly targeting tourists. However, it is still important to exercise caution and be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas and tourist spots.
Taking precautions such as securing personal belongings, avoiding isolated areas at night, and using well-lit and populated streets can contribute to a safer experience in Messina.
Transport
Public transport in Messina is lacking, and traffic is below average.
There are on average 0.64 active vehicles per person, against a national average of 0.66.
Around 0.09km per 10k inhabitants of the main city in Messina consist of bicycle lanes. This makes Messina not very bike-friendly.
