WINDOW SHOPPING IN MESSINA

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Port of Messina, Sicily, Italy

Aboard the Enchanted Princess

Room Aloha 212

Sunny, 74—such a beautiful day

Statue of the Madonna at the entrance of Messina Port, Sicily. 

The statue is called La Madonna della Lettera (Our Lady of the Letter), 

the patron saint of the city

"We bless you and your city"

I love Messina!

 

Messina, located on the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west and the Ionian Sea in the east, is an old city, founded 700 years BCE by the Greeks, although Sicily’s history goes back to prehistoric days.  Only two miles at its narrowest point separates Messina/Sicily from Italy’s mainland.

 

In 1908 an earthquake virtually destroyed the city and 84,000 people died. The city remained in the process of rebuilding until the Allies invaded and bombed the city.  The city/island probably suffered from aerial bombardment because it was the principal point used by the Axis powers to reinforce troops and supplies.

 

Today the city’s principal occupations are trade, citrus fruit industries, manufacture of chemicals, pharmaceutical products, and the operation of the port and dockyards. The population is about 250,000.

 

Messina is about 60 miles from Mount Etna, which was spewing lava a week ago. Last year we visited Mt. Etna and had a wonderful lunch near the summit. We even collected some lava cinders there. Volcanoes mean very fertile soil—the upside.

Come along with us as we discover Messina!

 

TK and I disembarked from the ship about 9 a.m. and decided to take a little train ride—we had not scheduled a tour and just wanted to enjoy Messina on our own. I loved this little train—open air, Italian music, and guided in English.   We did a sort of circle tour, with one scenic stop.

Things we saw as we rode the train

The Little Train

Firetruck

Victor Emmanuel Theater

St. Catherine's Church

St. Marta's Refuge

Where citizens took refuge during the WWII bombing

Shrine of Cristo Re (Christ the King)

Built in 1937 to house the remains of those who died in the two world wars. 

For Lawrence

Spot looking over the city and

all you can see is J and TK

Too much fog-but on the right is Italy; on the left is Sicily

Another shot of the Shrine of Cristo RE

Busy streets

Along the way

Ambulance

Get your car serviced here!

Supermarket

 We got off the train at the shopping district for some window shopping.  Coffee and sfogliatella was in sight.  If you tasted this treat in Italy, you would totally understand!  Trader Joe’s has frozen sfogliatella, but fresh in Italy is primo!

 

After our special treat, we continued window shopping.

WINDOW SHOPPING!

Pet birds!

A little spice

Pomegranates and oranges

Tree growing in the street

TK thinking about his next vehicle

 

We made certain that we were near the Cathedral of Messina by noon to see the belltower and the astronomical clock, constructed by the Ungerer Company of Strasbourg in 1933. It is the largest, most complex astronomical, mechanical clock in the world.

The great photographer only took this photo of the belltower and church together

 

At noon, the movement and sounds began. First, the lion roars 3 times, then the rooster crows 3 times. After that, Shubert’s Ave Maria is played, and finally the angel and other figures move.  This all takes place over 12 minutes.

The lion roars!

The rooster crows!

(taken later at half past noon--the ages of man

overseen by death, rather macabre)

 

There was a huge crowd, and many carabinieri, many police Fiats with blue flashers, with “Carabinieri” written on them, in a huge piazza we were told was designed 900 years ago.  

The Cathedral, Sicilian/Norman architecture, has been rebuilt many times, first consecrated in 1197. Much was destroyed by the 1908 earthquake and the aerial bombardment of 1943, but the Gothic portal, the perimeter walls, and the apse remained standing.

As soon as the figures on the belltower were still, everyone headed for the church. Upon entering, I was astounded by the size and beauty. Huge marble pillars, large marble sculptures of the Apostles, the gold, silver, gilded copper, mosaics, the Arab-Byzantine style ceiling, bronze angels.

Arab-Byzantine style ceiling.

Looked like guards of the church?

Guards?

Iconography over the altar

Golden Madonna

Over the altar

Marble floor

Door panel

Door Panel 

Many Carabinieri were coming out of the church and TK spotted the Cardinal—what was going on?  We asked someone and to our understanding, today was a special mass honoring the carabinieri, and many came from all over Sicily.  Today is a Feast Day, The Presentation of the Virgin Mary, but with my humble knowledge of Catholicism, I cannot make the connection with police.    

Carabinieri everywhere!

Fountain of Orion 

near the Cathedral

TK spotted an on-duty firefighter in the piazza and I took their photo.  

TK's new friend, a Messina Firefighter!

We stopped nearby for Coke Zero and then started walking slowly toward the ship. The day was so sunny and warm, we wanted it to last. There are lots of areas to walk with fear of traffic, but traffic was heavy.  Smells of spaghetti, pizza, pastry, basil, garlic, all were making us hungry!

MORE INTERESTING THINGS TO SEE!

I could see that this is an archeological area--no other info

Interesting building!

 

Back on board, it wasn’t long before we were ready for dinner!

Arancini--how I have wanted this!

Peach Bellini Soup

Lemon Merignue Cheesecake

as good as Cheesecake Factory!

TK's Takes:  We didn't go far from the ship, but we got a lot of steps (over 14,000). He's tired.