Destination wedding in Messina
The strait, the ferries and a coastline of lakes and lighthouses.
Region
North East
Best months
May, June, September and October. The strait keeps the summer bearable with a constant breeze.
Getting there
About one hour from Catania airport. Civil ceremonies are held at Palazzo Zanca. The city is long and narrow, which makes transfers straightforward but parking difficult in the centre.
Getting married in Messina
Messina faces Calabria across a strait three kilometres wide, and that channel of moving water defines the city's light: bright, changeable, full of reflections. The astronomical clock of the cathedral, which comes alive at noon, is one of the most photographed mechanisms in Italy.
North of the city, the Capo Peloro peninsula holds the lakes of Ganzirri and the lighthouse at Torre Faro, where you can photograph a couple with two regions of Italy in the same frame.
Venues and locations I use in Messina
- Duomo di Messina and its astronomical clock tower
- Capo Peloro, the Ganzirri lakes and the Torre Faro lighthouse
- Historic villas along the Tyrrhenian coast towards Milazzo
- Santuario di Montalto with a view over the harbour
- Sailing boats on the strait for the couple session
Frequently asked questions
Why choose Messina over Taormina?
Cost and calm. Messina offers similar coastal scenery at a fraction of Taormina's prices, and it is closer for guests arriving from mainland Italy.
Can guests arrive by train?
Yes, Messina is the arrival point of the ferry-borne trains from the mainland, which many Italian guests find convenient.
Nearby wedding destinations
Ionian Coast
Taormina
A Greek theatre, Etna on the horizon and the most photographed terrace in Sicily.
North East
Milazzo
A castle on a headland and the gateway to the Aeolian Islands.
Etna Region
Mount Etna
Black lava, vineyards on the slopes and Europe's most active volcano.
Aeolian Islands
Lipari
The main island of the Aeolians, a UNESCO archipelago in the Tyrrhenian.