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Cruise port Messina questions

Posted by on

We will be in Messina in mid October for 11 hours. I have always wanted to see the Greek Theater in Taormina. So that is a must. I used to be a geology major so a Mt Etna excursion is appealing.

There are excursions that go to Taormina for most of the day. There is a Mt Etna/Taormina combo tour which allows you to walk the rim of the Silvestri Spent Craters and see remnants of Mount Etna eruptions, then a drive to Taormina.

I have been to Hawaii and have walked Mt Vesuvius in Italy so I have seen some incredible volcanic landscapes.

So for those that have been to Messina before, what comments can you make to help me make my decision. I am leaning on seeing Taormina with a quick walk around Messina. But I can be swayed to add Mt Etna. Any comments on how to get to Taormina from Messina are welcomed as well. Thanks.

Posted by
8293 posts

If Taormina is attractive to you, do go. The Greek Theatre is a sight to behold and there are the most wonderful views from the top area. In Messina we did a hop on/hop off bus tour, and there was a street market close to the harbour so we did a little shopping. I stil use the handbag I bought there.

Edit: In October it will be very, very cold at Mt Etna.

Posted by
5279 posts

We've been to both Taormina and Mt Etna and highly recommend doing both if possible. Taormina is a wonderful. pretty, quaint town and has the ruins of a Roman (or Greek - I forget) theater. The craters at Mt Etna are "eerie" to say the least. Since they are both a good distance away from the port, I'd suggest using one of the ship's excursions. Yes, they are expensive and you can do it cheaper on your own, but..... If you are on a ship excursion and there is a delay returning they will wait for you. If you are off on your own that's not the case. We've seen people left running down the pier as the ship departed. Just food for thought.

Posted by
3961 posts

If you can work both Taormina and Mt Etna in, definately go. As previous contributors said, beautiful area. We were there in the month of September. Two days prior to our walk on Mt. Etna they had a bit of snow. Fortunately it was gone two days later. By the way we had the best Arancini to go at a small place near the Ancient Theater in Taormina.

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