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THE SIGNATURE
AUGUST 23, 2013
AUGUST 23, 2013
THE SIGNATURE
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MESSINA Admission to the Duomo (above) is free. Inside you will see one of the largest pipe organs in Italy, an original mosaic dating back to the 14th century and a beautiful timber ceiling.
Several of Messina's main attractions are in the city center. The Bell Tower was built in the 13th century and is home to one of the largest astronomical clocks in the world. Each day at noon, there is a special presentation which draws tourists and locals alike. The Duomo contains the Tesoro, which features a collection of the city's most prized treasures.
A plethora of donated jewels (above) and ancient gold platted items (below) are showcased in the Tesoro.
On display in the Tesoro, a relic said to contain a lock of the Virgin's hair.
Messina is the gateway to Sicily. Only three miles separate it from the Italian mainland. (Photos by Jackie Trembath) by jackie trembath NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
Messina is the third largest city on the island of Sicily and about an hour and a half drive from Sigonella. Although best known as the gateway to the mainland, Messina is also a city rich in art and history. If you happen to be in the area or want to tour more of the island, Messina is a great place to stop. Several of Messina's main attractions are in the city center and very near the port. Make sure to check out the 197 foot Bell Tower, home to one of the world's largest astronomical clocks, built in the 13th century. Each day at noon there is a special 15-minute astronomical clock presentation. The show animates parts of the Biblical history of Christianity and the history of Messina and Sicily. Visitors and locals alike gather to watch as the mechanical bronze figures come to life. The lion roars, the cock crows, the eagle spreads its wings and Dina and Clarenza, heroines of Messina, take turns ringing the bell. As the tune of Ave Maria fills the square, the automaton of Christ rises from his tomb and the church from the ashes. The messengers arrive with the Madonna's letter. The entire show is slow-paced and reflective. In front of the Bell Tower is the beautiful Fontana di Orione, the prebaroque creation of Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli in 1547. It honors
Orion, the city's mythical founder, who is surrounded by giants, nymphs, and cherubs. Before or after the Bell Tower presentation, step inside the Duomo, a Romanesque and Norman cathedral. Admission is free. Admire the timber ceiling and huge pipe organ - the largest organ in Italy - boasting 15,000 pipes. Inside you can also read about the history of the church and view a 14th-century work, the cathedral's only original mosaic depicting the Virgin seated with saints, queens, and archangels. For a small fee, you have the opportunity to visit the treasure-trove found in the Duomo's Tesoro. See first-hand valuable candlesticks, chalices, gold reliquaries and silverwork created by local artisans in the 17th and 18th centuries. The highlight of the Tesoro is the Manta d'Oro (golden mantle), a special cover for the Virgin and Bambino on the Duomo's altar. Just north of the Duomo you will find the Museo Regionale, situated in a former silk mill from 1914. It is home to Sicily's greatest collection of art from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Inside the museum are two large Caravaggio masterpieces which represent the raising of Lazarus and the Nativity.
Located in front of the Bell Tower, the Fontana di Orione honors the city's mythical founder, Orion.
The Museo Regionale is home to Sicily's greatest art collection including Caravaggio masterpieces.
The Tesoro features the Manta d'Oro, a golden mantle designed as a special cover on the Duomo's altar.