Messina, Strait of, is a stretch of water separating the island of Sicily from Italy. The strait is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) long. In the past, sailors would not attempt to cross its narrow northern end because of the jagged rocks and strong current. The strait serves as a travel route, but ships find it a dangerous crossing. Reggio di Calabria in Italy and Messina in Sicily are ports on the strait.
