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Messina

Southern Europe

Messina is a harbour city and the capital of the Italian Metropolitan City of Messina, near the northeast corner of Sicily at the Strait of Messina, forming an important access terminal to the Calabria region, Villa San Giovanni and Reggio Calabria on the Italian mainland. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of 217,033 in the city proper and 595,948 in the metropolitan city as of 2025.

Facts
Population
216,458 1
Area (sq km)
213.75 2
Founding Year
757 BCE 1
Founding Year
8th century BCE 3
Elevation (m)
3 2
Latitude
38.193611 degrees north 2
Longitude
15.554167 degrees east 2
FAQs

How did Messina get its name?

It began as Zancle and became Messana and then Messina.

Messina was founded by the Sicels as Zancle in 757 BC, a name that meant sickle in their language. Greek colonists of Magna Graecia later repopulated it and renamed it Messana, and it became Messina in the Byzantine period.
In the Other Atlases

Origin Of

Antonello da Messina

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Antonello da Messina

Site Of

Abraham Abulafia

Also in Divinity Atlas: which is located in this subject.

Source Abraham Abulafia (Wikipedia)Article text
Quote, Article text
He remained active in Messina for a decade (1281–91), presenting himself as a "prophet", "messiah" and "son of God".
Sources
1. Messina (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section
    Founded by the Sicels with the name of Zancle in 757 BC, which in their language meant sickle, it was repopulated by Greek colonists of Magna Graecia and renamed Messana.
  • Lead section
    It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of 216,458 inhabitants in the city proper and 594,074 in the metropolitan city as of 2026.
  • In Group: Cities of Southern Europe (World), Wikipedia; part-of country and UN M49 subregion
View the Source
2. Messina (Wikidata)
  • P625 (coordinate location)
    latitude 38.193611, longitude 15.554167
  • P2044 (elevation above sea level)
    elevation 3 m
  • P2046 (area)
    area 213.75 sq km
View the Source
3. Wikidata: Messina
  • Wikidata Q13666, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
  • Wikidata Q13666 P571
View the Source
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