Italy cruises
At Sicily's northeast tip, Messina is an often overlooked travel destination, but with a busy port, various historic buildings and many local delicacies to try, it's well worth a visit. The Norman Duomo, a spectacular cathedral in the centre, is a great place to start, followed by the Piazza del Duomo which is said to house one of the largest astronomical clocks in the world. For something to escape the crowds, why not head upwards- In exchange for a few flights of stairs, the Sacrario di Cristo Re, the Santuario di Montalto and the Pilone d'acciaio (dubbed the Eiffel Tower of Messina) all offer magnificent panoramas of the city. For a more relaxing afternoon, take a seat in one of the many plazas and savour the taste of fresh swordfish, cannolo with ricotta or the salty lemonade all said to be typical to this area.