Messina, the Gate of Sicily, lies at the bottom of the mountain hills of Pelioritanii. Founded by Greeks in the 8th century BC, it was destroyed by Carthaginians in 397 BC. The Romans took the rebuilt city in 264 BC, precipitating the First Punic War. After the war it became a free city allied with Rome. It was taken successively by the Goths, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Swabians (Germans), Spaniards, and finally (in 1860) Italians.



On the approach to the entrance of the port you will see the statue of the Madonna of the Letter. According to the legend, Christianity was brought to Sicily by Saints Peter and Paul, and there is still preserved at Messina a letter attributed to the Mary. It is claimed the letter was written by her to the Messinians when she heard of their conversion by St. Paul. The translation of the inscription reads We Bless You and Your City.


We will drive south along the eastern coast of Sicily to Taormina. Taormina’s past is Sicily’s history in a microcosm: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Swabians, the French and the Spanish all came, saw, conquered and left.



We will have a bit of free time here for some shopping, strolling, or sipping, but we will also have a chance to visit the ancient Greek Amphitheater.


Then it is up the slopes of Mt. Etna. Hopefully, it will not be rumbling, spewing, or doing anything other that sitting quietly when we are there.


We finish the day at the winery. As of this writing, it will be the Barone di Villagrande, but that is subject to change if they are full the evening of our visit.


We will have a chance to see the cellars, the land, taste wines, and have a light summer Sicilian meal at the winery.

As always, please check the links to the left for more in-depth information, maps, etc.

Next up: Sea Day and some R & R. Better yet, some G & T!!