Founded in the 8th century b.C. and originally called Zancle, Messina overlooks the Strict of the same name, which according to the legend was guarded by the sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis. The Messina province can boast many naturalistic sites, such as the Alcantara Gorges (which formed as the result of the eruptions of the Monio crater), the Nebrodi mountain chain, and the Eolie archipelago, enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site List, with its seven islands: Filicudi, Alicudi, Lipari, Panarea, Vulcano, Stromboli and Salina.

Driving up the Tyrrhenian coast from Messina the fishing villages of Ganzirri and Torre del Faro, then Capo Peloro, and the beaches of Mortelle, Acquarone, and Sindari Marina can be reached. Going south, one can find Scaletta Zanclea, featuring an imposing fortress; ltàla, boasting an eastern-style centuries-old church with volcanic stone decorations; Capo Alì, with its Norman tower; the medieval village of Sàvoca; the fortified rocky promontory of Capo Sant’Alessio; and up on the slopes of the Peloritani mountains, the beautiful ancient hamlet of Forza d’Agrò, with its quiet, charming cemetery nestled between the remains of a Norman castle.