Province of Messina

Coordinates: 38°11′N 15°33′E / 38.183°N 15.550°E / 38.183; 15.550
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Province of Messina
Province
(1860–2015)
Giardini Naxos, a popular resort in the province of Messina
Giardini Naxos, a popular resort in the province of Messina
Map highlighting the location of the province of Messina in Italy
Map highlighting the location of the province of Messina in Italy
Country Italy
RegionSicily
Capital(s)Messina
Comuni'108
Area
 • Total3,247 km2 (1,254 sq mi)
Population
 (December 2011)
 • Total651,921
 • Density200/km2 (520/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
98000-98100
Telephone prefix090, 0941, 0942
Vehicle registrationME
ISTAT083

The province of Messina (Italian: provincia di Messina; Sicilian: pruvincia di Missina) was a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily, Italy. Its capital was the city of Messina. It was replaced by the Metropolitan City of Messina.

Geography[edit]

Territory[edit]

It had an area of 3,247 square kilometres (1,254 sq mi), which amounts to 12.6 percent of total area of the island, and a total population of more 650,000. There are 108 comuni (sg.: comune) in the province [1].

The province included the Aeolian Islands, all part of the comune (municipality) of Lipari (with the exception of Salina). The territory is largely mountainous, with the exception of alluvial plain at the mouths of the various rivers. The largest plain is that in the area between Milazzo and Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, which, together with Messina, form a metropolitan area of some 500,000 inhabitants, one of the largest in southern Italy. Much of the population is concentrated in the coastal area, after the hill towns have been largely abandoned from the 19th century.

The main mountain ridges are the Peloritani, up to 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) in elevation, and the Nebrodi, up to 1,900 metres (6,200 ft), which are included in a Regional Natural Reserve.

Rivers of the province include the Alcantara and the Pollina, which forms the border with the province of Palermo to the west.

the Isola Bella at Taormina city
the Alcantara river canyon
the Rocca Salvatesta face from Fondachelli-Fantina town
the Sanctuary of Tindari over Marinello lakes
Stromboli volcano, Aeolian Islands

Main comuni[edit]

The main comuni (municipalities) by population are:

Comune Population
Messina 246,951
Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto 41,157
Milazzo 32,600
Patti 13,241
Sant'Agata di Militello 13,026
Capo d'Orlando 12,928
Taormina 10,909
Lipari 10,782

Religious Feasts and tradition[edit]

date Feast City
6 December Feast of Saint Nicholas Saponara
8 December Feast of the Immaculate Conception Saponara
13 December Feast of Saint Lucy Santa Lucia del Mela
6 January living Nativity scene Montalbano Elicona
20 January Feast of Saint Sebastian Mistretta
19 March Feast of Saint Joseph Oliveri
19 March and Tuesday after Easter Feast of Saint Joseph Piraino
19 March Feast of Saint Joseph Merì
last March Friday Procession of SS Crucifix with the hodeeds blu "i babbaluti" San Marco d'Alunzio
Easter Friday Procession of the "Barette" Messina
the 11-12 and third Sunday of May Feast of Saint Philip of Agira Limina
3 June Feast of the Madonna della Lettera Messina
3 June Feast of the Madonna della Lettera Itala
12 June Feast of the Madonna di Montalto Messina
13 June and following Sunday Feast of Anthony of Padua Milazzo
24 June Feast of Saint John the Baptist Castanea, Messina
29 June Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul San Pier Niceto
2 July Feast of Our Lady of Graces Furci Siculo
first Sunday of July Feast of Saint Maria Annunziata Merì
first Sunday of July Feast of the Madonna of the saint water Valdina
first Sunday of July Feast of Our Lady of Graces Naso
second Sunday of July Feast of the Saint Guardian Angel Fondachelli-Fantina
16 July Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roccalumera
25 July Feast of the Saint James Capizzi
first Sunday of August Feast on the sea of the Saint Mary of Porto Salvo Santa Teresa di Riva
3 August Feast of the Madonna of Dinnammare Larderia, Messina
5 August Feast of the Saint Mary of the Snows Santa Lucia del Mela
9–10 August Feast of Saint Lorenz Frazzanò
second Sunday of August Feast of Saint Lucy Savoca
second Sunday of August Feast of Saint Sebastian Gaggi
15 August Feast on the Assumption of Mary Novara di Sicilia
15 August Feast on the Assumption of Mary Messina
first Sunday of September Feast of the Madonna of the chain Mongiuffi Melia
8 September Feast of the Madonna of the Divine providence Fondachelli-Fantina
7–8 September Feast of the black Madonna of Tindari Tindari

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

  • Province website Archived 2010-02-13 at the Wayback Machine
  • Pictures, history, tourism, gastronomy, books, local products, local surnames, transportation in the province of Messina
  • Travel itineraries in Messina, Taormina and Lipari Islands. Sicily TravelNet
  • "Messina. I. A province of Sicily" . The American Cyclopædia. 1879.

38°11′N 15°33′E / 38.183°N 15.550°E / 38.183; 15.550