Livin’ HOT in Messina, Sicily

To take a break from an organized tour, we decided to walk Messina on our own. The famous Mt. Etna volcano crater was a 2 hour drive away and a suggested town, Taromina, was about an hour and a half away. We used the port guide to find a few key sites, but then made our way to the Tourist Information building to find a map of the city.

We enjoyed learning about the various buildings, parks, fountains, and churches on our self-guided walking tour. After getting the map from the tourist information booth, we followed the red path and easily found the various historical sites. We came across a 24-hour vending machine vestibule that sold snacks, coffee, drinks, and BEER!!! You had to scan your ID (I guess to ensure you were of drinking age) to make a beer purchase.

One of the oddest sights was the staircase with the “bir-maids” aka bird heads with mermaid tails. Not sure what this was about, but I think it also was an area for homeless people.Read more