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| Città Metropolitana di Messina | |
|---|---|
| Name | Città Metropolitana di Messina |
| Settlement type | Metropolitan City |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Italy |
| Subdivision type1 | Region |
| Subdivision name1 | Sicily |
| Established title | Established |
| Established date | 2015 |
| Seat type | Capital |
| Seat | Messina |
| Area total km2 | 3381 |
| Population total | 650000 |
| Population as of | 2017 |
Città Metropolitana di Messina
The Metropolitan City centered on Messina is an Italian metropolitan entity on the northeastern tip of Sicily, formed in 2015 as part of institutional reforms linked to legislation promoted during the governments of Matteo Renzi, Enrico Letta, Giuseppe Conte, and earlier reform efforts under Silvio Berlusconi and the Letta Cabinet. It succeeds the former Province of Messina and interfaces with regional authorities in Palermo, Catania, and institutions such as the Sicilian Region and national ministries including the Ministry of the Interior (Italy) and Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (Italy).
The area has a layered chronology from classical antiquity through modern unification: Greek colonization tied to Zancle, Roman administration linked to Sicily (Roman province), the Byzantine phase associated with the Exarchate of Ravenna, and the medieval era shaped by the Emirate of Sicily, the Norman conquest of southern Italy and Sicily, and dynasties like the Hauteville family and the Hohenstaufen. The port city experienced seismic disruption during the 1908 Messina earthquake and subsequent rebuilding influenced by architects connected with the Art Nouveau movement and reconstruction policies enacted during the reign of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and governments of the Kingdom of Italy. Twentieth-century history involved wartime episodes including operations of the Allied invasion of Sicily and postwar migration patterns connected to the Italian economic miracle and the policies of the Italian Republic.
Situated on the Strait of Messina opposite the mainland region of Calabria and near the Aeolian Islands, the metropolitan area encompasses coastal zones, mountain ranges such as the Peloritani mountains, and volcanic landscapes associated with Stromboli and Mount Etna. The territory includes protected areas administered under frameworks like the Natura 2000 network and sites recognized for biodiversity alongside coastal wetlands registered in inventories compiled with the European Environment Agency. Climatic influences derive from the Mediterranean climate patterns affecting agriculture, marine ecosystems tied to the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ionian Sea, and environmental management challenges addressed in plans coordinated with agencies such as the Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale.
The metropolitan entity operates within Italy’s local government structure established by laws including the Delrio Law and statutes enacted by the Sicilian Regional Assembly. Its governance features a metropolitan mayor drawn from municipal politics in Messina and a metropolitan council composed of representatives from comuni such as Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Milazzo, Taormina, Santa Teresa di Riva, Montalbano Elicona, and Lipari. Administrative competencies relate to urban planning coordinated with regional authorities in Palermo, inter-municipal services shaped by norms of the Conferenza delle Regioni e delle Province autonome, and judicial-administrative interactions with courthouses of the Tribunale di Messina and offices tied to the Prefecture of Messina.
Population distribution reflects urban concentrations in the municipality of Messina and demographic patterns in towns like Rometta, Patti, Gioiosa Marea, and island communities such as Salina and Filicudi. Historical migration episodes link to flows toward northern cities like Milan, Turin, and Rome during postwar industrialization, and recent trends include international arrivals associated with Mediterranean routes involving Lampedusa and responses coordinated with the Italian Red Cross and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Census operations are conducted under the institutional framework of Istat and report variations in age structure, household composition, and population density across municipalities.
Economic sectors combine maritime trade via ports such as Port of Messina and Gioia Tauro (regional hub), fishing fleets registered under Marina Mercantile, tourism enterprises anchored in destinations like Taormina and the Aeolian Islands, and agriculture producing citrus, olives, and vineyards promoted in cooperative frameworks linked to the Confagricoltura and Coldiretti. Industry includes shipbuilding and repair yards interacting with firms registered in the Camera di commercio di Messina, small and medium enterprises integrated into supply chains connected to Mediterranean trade corridors like the Trans-European Transport Network. Infrastructure projects have involved planning with the ANAS road authority, rail services under Trenitalia, and port investments coordinated with the Autorità di Sistema Portuale dello Stretto.
Maritime links across the Strait of Messina connect to mainland ports including Reggio Calabria via ferry operators and infrastructure managed by the Port Authority of the Strait. Rail corridors tie the area into national lines serving Messina Centrale station and services extending toward Catania Centrale and Palermo Centrale; high-capacity roads include the A20 motorway (Italy) and state roads administered by ANAS. Air connections operate through airports such as Reggio Calabria Airport and regional airfields with scheduled services interfacing with carriers regulated by the Italian Civil Aviation Authority and EU aviation frameworks.
Cultural heritage embraces classical ruins, Norman castles like those associated with the Kingdom of Sicily, Baroque churches influenced by architects linked to the Sicilian Baroque movement, and festivals including religious processions connected to the Cult of the Madonna. Notable cultural sites and events draw visitors to landmarks such as the Cathedral of Messina, ancient theaters, and archaeological areas with finds curated by museums like the Museo Regionale di Messina. Tourism strategies link to UNESCO-inscribed landscapes in Sicily, promotional activities with regional tourism boards, and hospitality businesses operating in resort towns such as Giardini Naxos and Capo d'Orlando.
Category:Metropolitan cities of Italy Category:Geography of Sicily