Messina Apartments & Villas (Sicily)

The town of Messina was founded by Greek Colonists in the eigth century BC. It is located on the very north east tip of the island of Sicily, opposite the mainlad of Italy across a narrow strait. The Greek city of Messene traces its ancestry back to the Mycenaens. Messina was originally called Zancle (attributed to King Zanclus) because of the shape of its natural harbour which is like a Scythe. In the early fifth century BC, Anaxilas of Rhegium renamed it Messene in honor of the Greek city Messene. Today the area is a good location to rent a Sicily Villa or stay in a Sicily apartment in the town itself. You are close to Italy for those motoring, and for allowing access to the mainland.

The city has a long and changeable history with many people seizng or conquering the town. In 288 BC the Mamertines seized the city by treachery, killing all the men and taking the women as their wives. The city became a base from which they ravaged the countryside, leading to a conflict with the expanding regional empire of Syracuse. Hiero II, tyrant of Syracuse, defeated the Mamertines near Mylae on the Longanus River and besieged Messina. Carthage assisted the Mamertines because of a long-standing conflict with Syracuse over dominance in Sicily. When Hiero attacked a second time in 264 BC, the Mamertines petitioned Rome for an alliance, hoping for more reliable protection. Although initially reluctant to assist lest it encourage other mercenary groups to mutiny, Rome was unwilling to see Carthaginian power spread further over Sicily and encroach on Italy. Rome therefore entered into an alliance with the Mamertines. In 264 BC, Roman troops were deployed to Sicily, the first time a Roman army acted outside the Italian peninsula.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively conquered: by the Byzantine Empire in 535 AD; by the Arabs in 842 AD; and in 1061 by the Normans. In 1847 it was one of the first cities in Italy where Risorgimento riots broke out. In 1848 it rebelled openly against the reigning Bourbons, but was heavily suppressed again. Only in 1860, after the Battle of Milazzo, the Garibaldine troops freed the city. One of the main figures of the unification of Italy, Giuseppe Mazzini, was elected deputy at Messina in the general elections of 1866. So if you like studying history then why not rent a Sicily apartment in Messina or stay in a Sicily Holiday villa in the neighbouring countryside ?

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