Taranto – Messina

Scenery on the way to Messina.

First glimpse of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The volcanic island of Stromboili can be seen in the distance. Part of the Aeolian Islands, Mt. Stromboli is one of the four active volcanoes of Italy. It is the mythological home of Aeolus. The island has a population of 500, and has the nickname “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean”. It reaches to 926m above sea level and 2700m above the sea floor.

At the port of Villa San Giovanni, where Italy would have a toenail, we were delayed as the Guardia di Finanze searched and interrogated a passenger, after a dog had sniffed something suspicious.

Boarding the ferry. There were many ferries going in many directions at this busy port this Wednesday afternoon. The crossing took 20 minutes. There has been talk of building a bridge across the Messina straight, for at least as long ago as when I last crossed, in 1991!

Looking back from the ferry at the mainland. Villa San Giovanni stretching down the mainland coast towards Reggio Calabria. The mind boggles to imagine how many fleets have fought for control of this strategic strait, since the Phoenicians, the Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Normans, Aragonesi (Spanish), and finally the Italians, following the successful Risorgimento, led by Garibalidi. In fact, in Villa San Giovanni we spied a prominent statue of Garibaldi, as well as streetnames, such as Via Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of the newly united Italy in 1861.

View across the bow to Sicily and Messina.

Sicily and Messina

Travel Diary