Overview
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 3.247 km2.
The population density is 191 inhabitants per km2, making it somewhat densely populated.
The male to female ratio is 1.00:1.08.
Messina ([mesหsiหna], Sicilian: Missina, Greek: ฮฮตฯฯฮฎฮฝฮท/ฮฮตฯฯฮฎฮฝฮฑ) is a port in the northeast corner of Sicily.
Most visitors are passing through, on the 5-km ferry-crossing to mainland Italy.
Although it dates to ancient times, Messina is modern and nondescript. Older buildings were mostly destroyed by the great earthquake and tsunami of 28 Dec 1908, then Allied bombing in World War II finished what was left.
Nevertheless, it has enough sights to justify spending a day. One modern claim to fame is that in June 1955, Messina hosted the conference that set up the European Community and common market, later the European Union.
The Tourist Information Centre is just outside the railway station.
Open M-F 09:00-13:00 and 15:00-17:00 (M W to 18:30).
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Climate
The province of Messina receives on average 252 hours of sunshine per month, or 8.4 hours of sunshine per day.NaN 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 3ยฐC.
In the summer, there are on average 25.9 hot days per month with perceived temperatures above 30ยฐC.
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name Region.NameCost of Living
The average monthly income in Messina is around 1183.43โฌ, which is lower than the average for Italy.The estimated cost of living is around 1239.49โฌ per month for an individual or 1854.5โฌ per month for a family of 4.
The cost for renting a small apartment (2-3 bedrooms) in a main city area is around 648โฌ 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 undefined pharmacies, 11.05 general practitioners and 42.5 specialized doctors per 10k inhabitants.NaNAverage 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%.NaN 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.NaN 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.
NaNReports of house thefts are 57.84% lower than average with 73.79 cases per 100k inhabitants.
NaNCases 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.NaNThere 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.
The few sights of interest in Messina are close to the main port and are easily reached on foot.
You're only likely to use the bus or tram to get between central Messina and the northern ferry terminal 4 km up the coast - these run every 10-15 min.
Bus 79 runs this way (every 30 min) and continues north to Ganzirri and Istituto Marino on the north-eastern tip of the island.
Many buses and the railway run south, as described in "Get in".
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Recommended Tours in Messina
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