Messina, << muh SEE nuh >> (pop. 220,094), is one of the largest cities in Sicily, an Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea. Messina lies on the northeastern coast of the island, on the Strait of Messina. The city serves as a gateway to Sicily. Every day, thousands of people travel by ferry across the less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) of water separating Messina and the Italian mainland. Messina, a market center, exports fruit, wine, and other products.
Historians believe that the Greeks founded Messina during the 700’s B.C. By 500 B.C., the city had become a well-known Greek colony. Since ancient times, Messina has been fought over by many nations. Earthquakes almost destroyed the city in 1783 and 1908. Messina suffered heavy damage from Allied air raids in 1943, during World War II.
