Acquedolci
The metropolitan city of Messina: a brief introduction
Hello everyone! Today we will talk about the metropolitan city of Messina, a beautiful Italian city located in Sicily. This metropolitan city was established in 2015 and replaced the Province of Messina. The metropolitan city has 599,990 inhabitants and is composed of 108 municipalities, making it the largest in terms of territorial subdivision compared to other Sicilian metropolitan cities and free municipal consortia.
Physical Geography
The Territory
The territory of Messina overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north and the Ionian Sea to the east. The city is separated from Calabria by the Strait of Messina and borders the metropolitan city of Palermo to the west, and the free municipal consortium of Enna and the metropolitan city of Catania to the south. The territory is predominantly mountainous, with the Peloritani and Nebrodi mountain ranges running from east to west.
The Tyrrhenian coast is 150 km long and extends from Villafranca Tirrena to Tusa, while the Ionian coast is 68 km long and extends from Scaletta Zanclea to Giardini-Naxos. In total, there are 46 coastal municipalities in the metropolitan city of Messina, with 34 overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and 12 overlooking the Ionian Sea.
The most important tourist locations
Taormina
The territory of Messina is known for the beauty of its tourist locations, such as Taormina and the Aeolian Islands. Taormina is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist locations in Sicily. With its incredible view of the sea, the city is famous for its alleys and squares, including the famous Piazza IX Aprile. Taormina is also known for its ancient theater, which dates back to Greek and Roman times.
Aeolian Islands
The Aeolian Islands (Island of Alicudi, Island of Filicudi, Island of Lipari, Island of Panarea, Island of Salina, Island of Stromboli, and Island of Vulcano) make up the municipality of Lipari, with the exception of the Island of Salina, which is administratively divided into three municipalities. The islands were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 and represent an important biosphere reserve, thanks to their wild and unspoiled nature.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the metropolitan city of Messina is a beautiful Italian city that offers many things to see and do. Thanks to its geographical location, the territory offers a great variety of landscapes, from the sea to the mountains. If you are in Sicily, don't miss the opportunity to visit Taormina and the Aeolian Islands, two of the most precious gems of this city.
