Province of Messina

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

Province of Messina
Province
(1860–2015)
Giardini Naxos, a popular resort in the Province of Messina
Map highlighting the location of the province of Messina in Italy
Country Italy
RegionSicily
Capital(s)Messina
Comuni108
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

Geography

Territory

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 (singular: comune) in the province , see Comuni of the Province of Messina.

The province included the Aeolian Islands, all part of the comune 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 communes

The main comunes 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
dateFeastCity
6 DecemberFeast of Saint NicholasSaponara
8 DecemberFeast of the Immaculate ConceptionSaponara
13 DecemberFeast of Saint LucySanta Lucia del Mela
6 Januaryliving Nativity sceneMontalbano Elicona
20 JanuaryFeast of Saint SebastianMistretta
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 FridayProcession of SS Crucifix with the hodeeds blu "i babbaluti"San Marco d'Alunzio
Easter FridayProcession of the "Barette"Messina
the 11-12 and third Sunday of MayFeast of Saint Philip of AgiraLimina
3 JuneFeast of the Madonna della LetteraMessina
3 JuneFeast of the Madonna della LetteraItala
12 JuneFeast of the Madonna di MontaltoMessina
13 June and following SundayFeast of Anthony of PaduaMilazzo
24 JuneFeast of Saint John the BaptistCastanea, Messina
29 JuneFeast of Saint Peter and Saint PaulSan Pier Niceto
2 JulyFeast of Our Lady of GracesFurci Siculo
first Sunday of JulyFeast of Saint Maria AnnunziataMerì
first Sunday of JulyFeast of the Madonna of the saint waterValdina
first Sunday of JulyFeast of Our Lady of GracesNaso
second Sunday of JulyFeast of the Saint Guardian AngelFondachelli-Fantina
16 JulyFeast of Our Lady of Mount CarmelRoccalumera
25 JulyFeast of the Saint JamesCapizzi
first Sunday of AugustFeast on the sea of the Saint Mary of Porto SalvoSanta Teresa di Riva
3 AugustFeast of the Madonna of DinnammareLarderia, Messina
5 AugustFeast of the Saint Mary of the SnowsSanta Lucia del Mela
9–10 AugustFeast of Saint LorenzFrazzanò
second Sunday of AugustFeast of Saint LucySavoca
second Sunday of AugustFeast of Saint SebastianGaggi
15 AugustFeast on the Assumption of MaryNovara di Sicilia
15 AugustFeast on the Assumption of MaryMessina
first Sunday of SeptemberFeast of the Madonna of the chainMongiuffi Melia
8 SeptemberFeast of the Madonna of the Divine providenceFondachelli-Fantina
7–8 SeptemberFeast of the black Madonna of TindariTindari

See also

References
    • Province website
    • 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.

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