Messina｜A Port City Reborn Thrice from Ruins

🔔 The Noon Bell Ritual Every day at 12 PM sharp, the astronomical clock atop Messina Cathedral comes alive: 🎶 12-minute mechanical ballet of saints and symbols 🦁 Golden lion roars three times (locals say it wards off bad luck) "Worth catching if nearby, but not worth rearranging your itinerary" ⛪️ Hidden Gem: Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani 📍 Piazza Catalani 12th-century Norman magic with Arabesque arches Ceiling sorcery: Star-patterned vaults that feel straight out of Lhasa 🏔️ Survivor's story: One of few buildings that withstood the 1908 earthquake 📸 Photography Notes Gear: Olympus EPL10 + 14-150mm lens Pro Tip: Shoot the church's facade during golden hour when shadows accentuate its geometric patterns 🗺️ Half-Day Itinerary Sneak Peek (Coming soon - illustrated one-page guide!) #SicilianWhispers #NormanSicily #OlympusInItaly