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Discover Messina by Hire Car

Messina is the third largest city in the province of Sicily. It is located in the east of the island and, due to its proximity to the Italian mainland, is also called the “Gateway of Sicily”.

In Messina you will come across magnificent churches like the Duomo, beautiful palazzi, some dating back to the 17th century, but also a modern city, with dead-straight streets and lively life.

Messina’s many modern buildings are explained by a tragic event. In 1908, an earthquake destroyed 90 percent of the houses. More than 85,000 people were killed.

Today, the city is resplendent in new splendour and the surrounding countryside also offers many delightful destinations that are great to explore by hire car. For rental and travel we have compiled a few tips.

Taking over the hire car

Most air travelers reach Messina via the airport in Catania. There you will find numerous hire car companies right at the airport. However, before you book a hire car, make sure that your rental company is also located right at the airport.

Because there are also hire car companies that operate their office only near the terminal. And then you may have to wait a very long time for a shuttle to transport you to your hire car.

Choosing the right hire car

If you want to travel primarily in the bustling city traffic of Messina, it is advisable to book a small car with which you can also use narrow parking spaces. If, on the other hand, you want to conquer Sicily, you should quietly choose a more comfortable compact car.

Because the distances here are long and the road network is quite well developed. Especially in summer, make sure that your hire car has air conditioning. Then you can enjoy the ride relaxed even on hot days.

Hire car prices

Catania and Messina hire car prices are usually in the mid-range. However, when the tourist crowds flock to the island during peak season, there can be a shortage of hire cars. And then the prices also rise. You can often get the cheapest deals if you reserve the car in good time and use our convenient price comparison.

hire car price comparison Messina

Insuring the car properly

The southern driving style is not everyone’s cup of tea. Quickly a small accident has happened with the unfamiliar hire car. With a fully comprehensive insurance without deductible, you are well insured in case of damage. With liability, it is important to pay attention to the amount of coverage.

It should be at least one million euros, so that you also enjoy some protection if road users are injured in an accident. If the coverage amount of your hire car company does not seem sufficient, you have the possibility to additionally protect yourself with a so-called Mallorca policy. Talk to your insurance company.

age limit

You must be 19 or 21 to hire car from almost all hire car companies in Catania and Messina. And many charge an extra fee from drivers younger than 25. There are also upper age limits with some rental companies, such as not renting cars to drivers older than 75. Check with your hire car company for terms and conditions before renting.

Accessories

You must always order accessories such as navigation equipment or child seats from your hire car company. Remember to book in good time. This is the only way to guarantee that the items you want will be there when you pick up the hire car.

Free kilometers

To explore the large island of Sicily at length, be sure to book a hire car with all the miles free.

Language barrier

You’d better not assume that all the staff at the hire car stations in Messina and Catania speak fluent English. Instead, make a note of the telephone number of your rental company’s Italian head office before you travel. There you can ask for translation help if necessary.

Tank control

In Messina and Catania there are rental companies that require customers to buy the first tank of fuel on the spot for an expensive service fee. The car can be returned empty in exchange. To save this service fee, it is better to book with rental companies where you take the car with a full tank and return it with a full tank.

Bail

Also make sure to book with a hire car company that only blocks the deposit due on your credit card. If the amount is actually collected, it can sometimes take a long time to get the money back after you return the car. Also, check before you drive to see if your card’s credit limit is sufficient to cover the deposit.

Sights in Messina

Dom: Impressive organ
A city tour could start at the cathedral. Although the original 12th-century building was completely destroyed by earthquake and war, it was then faithfully rebuilt. The organ in particular attracts visitors. It is the second largest organ in Italy and, with over 16,000 pipes, also the third largest organ in Europe.

Also worth seeing is the Campanile, the bell tower. Every day at noon, a carillon starts moving here. On five levels, different figures pass by the astonished visitors, including a two-horse team pulled by gods, indicating the respective day of the week.

Orion Fountain: Richly ornamented masterpiece
In Cathedral Square you will find the beautiful Orion Fountain. It was built in 1547 by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli. Montorsoli was a student of Michelangelo. In the center of the fountain stands Orion, son of Neptune. According to legend, he was the founder of the city of Messina. At his feet are figures personifying the rivers Nile, Tiber, Ebro and Camaro.

SS. Annunziata di Catalani: Arabic style elements
You will discover many Romanesque elements when you visit the church SS. Annunziata di Catalani. It was built around 1100. A reconstruction took place in the middle of the 13th century. The decorative inlaid bands are due to Arabic influences.

Museo Regionale: Diverse Works of Art
A visit to the Museo Regionale could be the end of your stroll through the city. Here you will find works of art dating from between the 12th and 18th centuries, for example by Caravaggio The winged altar of St Gregory by Antonello da Messina, dating from 1473, particularly delights visitors.

Find a good restaurant

Gourmands will find their heaven at Le Due Sorelle restaurant. Here, freshly caught fish is transformed into delicious dishes in an innovative way. And the wine list is also impressive, with just the right drop for every guest.

Find a good hotel

Most visitors are drawn to the island’s beaches. That’s why there are only a limited number of hotels in Messina. We recommend the Guest House Residence. You will stay in a modern furnished house. The rooms do not lack any comfort, the location is central.

Find a worthwhile destination in the area

Cineastes can steer the hire car to Savoca. The place is located in the rugged mountainous area and is 43 kilometers away from Messina. You can reach it in just under an hour. In 1970, Savoca served director Francis Ford Copola as the backdrop for his cult film “The Godfather”.

Today, you can stroll through the medieval streets of the town without worry. No mobster will come after your life. If you still don’t want to give yourself goosebumps, you can still visit the Capuchin monastery. In the crypt you will find mummified corpses from the 18th century. Back in daylight, you can sit down in the Bar Vitelli. Here everything reminds you of the former film fame of the place. And after the first drink, you know for sure that the Godfather could enter the establishment at any time.

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

Milazzo: Lively small town
Typical Sicilian small town life can be observed if you first steer the hire car to Milazzo. In a good half hour you are there. In Milazzo, you can take a look at the mighty fort, whose origins date back to the time of the Arabs. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to stroll through the lively centre and go in search of original souvenirs.

Etna: Mighty Volcano
A three-hour drive now lies ahead of you until you reach the Etna volcano. Over 3,300 metres high, the summit is often covered in snow. If you want to climb Etna, be sure to join a guided tour, as many tourists get lost in the impassable mountainous terrain where temperatures can be extremely frigid even in high summer. Some mountain hikers who set out on a tour of Etna have disappeared without a trace to this day.

Taormina: Spectacular Amphitheatre
If Etna impresses with rugged mountainous terrain, it is the loveliness of Taormina, the final destination of your trip, that draws tourists in droves. You will reach the town in about an hour and a half. In Taormina, you can stroll along the magnificent Corso, enjoy an espresso in small cafés, and always experience spectacular views over the sea and coast.

At the end of your visit, you will have the opportunity to admire the Greek-Roman theatre, about which Goethe once wrote: “If you now sit down where the highest spectators once sat, you must confess that no audience in the theatre has ever had such objects in front of them.” And indeed, even today the view from the amphitheatre can only be described as breathtaking. A drive of three quarters of an hour now separates you from Messina, where you can review the events of a long day.

Conclusion

The diversity of Messina and the charming destinations in the surrounding area make the city an ideal base for a trip by hire car. With our convenient price comparison, you can easily find a suitable car at great rates.

Hire car Messina