Province of Messina

Province of Messina
Province

Giardini Naxos, a popular resort in the Province of Messina

Map highlighting the location of the province of Messina in Italy
Country  Italy
Region Sicily
Capital(s) Messina
Comuni 108
Area
 • Total 3,247 km2 (1,254 sq mi)
Population (December 2011)
 • Total 651,921
 • Density 200/km2 (520/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 98000-98100
Telephone prefix 090, 0941, 0942
Vehicle registration ME
ISTAT 083

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.

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

date Feast City
6 december Feast of Saint Nicholas Saponara
8 december Feast of the Immaculate Conception Saponara
13 december Feast of Saint Lucy Santa Lucia del Mela
20 January Feast of Saint Sebastian Mistretta

See also

References

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Province of Messina.

    Coordinates: 38°11′N 15°33′E / 38.183°N 15.550°E / 38.183; 15.550

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