Duomo di Messina (Messina Cathedral), Messina (must see)

Messina Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Mary of the Assumption, is the religious heart of the city and one of its most important historic landmarks. Originally built during the Norman period, it was solemnly consecrated in 1197 by Archbishop Berardo in the presence of Emperor Henry VI and Queen Constance of Sicily.

The cathedral was repeatedly transformed over the following centuries. Beginning in the 14th century, Archbishop Guidotto de Abbiate commissioned mosaics for the apses and embellishments for the façade. During the 16th century, sculptor Giovan Angelo Montorsoli contributed to its decoration, while later Baroque additions further altered its medieval appearance.

Its history also mirrors Messina’s repeated destruction and rebirth. The 1783 earthquake destroyed its enormous 90-meter bell tower, while the catastrophic 1908 earthquake left little more than the perimeter walls and apses standing. Reconstructed during the 1920s, the cathedral suffered another disaster in 1943, when wartime bombing caused a devastating fire. It was subsequently restored and reopened in 1947.

Before entering, examine the imposing façade. Particularly noteworthy is the elaborate main portal, completed between the 14th and 15th centuries. Pay special attention to the stone lions crouching beneath the elaborate Gothic columns framing the entrance. The decorative marble reliefs above depict scenes of rural life.

Inside, the cathedral follows a three-nave basilica plan, with rows of columns supporting pointed arches. Despite its vast scale, the interior is remarkably well organized. In the south nave, near the entrance, look for the statue of Saint John the Baptist by Italian sculptor Antonello Gagini. Remarkably, the statue survived both the 1908 earthquake and the devastating fire of 1943.

For another highlight, approach the transept to find the organ console. The cathedral’s enormous organ has five keyboards, 170 registers and approximately 16,000 pipes, distributed among several sections positioned on either side of the transept, behind the baldachin, above the main entrance and over the triumphal arch. Together, these elements make it one of the largest organs in Italy. As you stroll among the massive columns, don’t overlook the image of the Madonna of the Letter or the surviving medieval mosaics.

Beneath the church lies the historic Norman crypt. Outside, the neighboring Bell Tower houses Messina’s celebrated astronomical clock. Together, the Cathedral and Bell Tower form the monumental centerpiece of Cathedral Square and serve as powerful symbols of Messina’s extraordinary ability to rebuild after disaster.