{"id":24202,"date":"2021-05-25T17:33:28","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T07:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/?post_type=articles&p=194050"},"modified":"2021-05-25T12:53:43","modified_gmt":"2021-05-25T12:53:43","slug":"grazia-at-home-city-guide-messina-italy","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/grazia-at-home-city-guide-messina-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"GRAZIA’s At Home City Guide To Messina, Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The past year has seen many people across the world grapple with a very specific type of loss, the sadness of a trip not taken, the mourning of exploring new cultures, the yearning for experiences beyond the anomie of the supermarket. As that strong desire for, and impulse to, wander the world fell prey to the pandemic in a turbulent 2020, we seemed at one point to be surging toward an anticipatory dystopia. Who were we without travel? What do we have to look forward to when there is no international holiday booked for summer?<\/em><\/p>\n

Over the course of the past 12 months, we\u2019ve been commissioning artists, painters and illustrators from different cities all over the world to paint a picture of what they see out their windows \u2013 either real or imaginary. Most artists have been confined to these cities during the global lockdowns, and all have a close connection to the place they have illustrated. Each artist has a \u201cGRAZIA At Home City Guide\u201d perched on their windowsill, insider guides to the cities you need to visit and recollections of moments past in these nooks of the world – how they drank in the palaces, how they wandered through the parks and how they ate and ate and ate. There are recommendations too \u2013 local dishes, phrases and lessons \u2013 so you can start imagining your own itinerary from the comfort of your own home. Today, we\u2019re headed to Messina in Italy.<\/em><\/p>\n

Similar to Giovanni Rizzo<\/a>\u2019s dreamlike illustration style, the harbor city of Messina is as if it was pulled straight from mythology. Situated in northeastern Sicily, the old Mediterranean city is separated from the mainland which lends further fascination to the region.<\/p>\n

Messina is best known for the Norman Messina Cathedral and Bell Tower with construction of the building dating back to the 12th century. Rizzo was born in the city and distinctly remembers the \u201clion roar\u201d of the bells’ mechanisms churning, shortly followed by a chorus of Schubert\u2019s \u201cAve Maria.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes it can be heard through the entire town thanks to the wind,\u201d Rizzo says.<\/p>\n

Marble fountains can be found throughout the city decorated by revered mythical gods. Messina\u2019s Fountain of Neptune is perhaps the most famous and depicts the famous sea god, overlooking the Ionian Sea. It is here where Rizzo also recalls another childhood memory and forms the inspiration for his painting: watching the swordfish boats pass by.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was a child I used to see the old swordfish boats sailing through the Strait,\u201d Rizzo says. \u201cThey were special boats with a very high mast where a sailor was standing to spot swordfishes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The local seafood is what makes up much of the cuisine in Messina, while braciolettine \u2013 breaded and roasted beef roll stuffed with cheese \u2013 is a dish that can\u2019t be found anywhere else in Sicily. But if you ask Rizzo for his favorite dish, it is focaccia and ironically, a lockdown obsession for many people worldwide. The artist suggests an iteration of Messina\u2019s local cheese \u2013 tuma \u2013 sliced fresh tomatoes, escarole and anchovies.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the bakeries make it and it\u2019s inexpensive,\u201d Rizzo says.<\/p>\n

After a long day of walking in and around the city\u2019s glistening waterfront, the smell of local jasmine flower wafting in the wind from the surrounding mountains, Rizzo says a fresh slice of focaccia is best served with Messina\u2019s salt crystal beer.<\/p>\n

Follow Giovanni Rizzo @giovanni.rizzo.illustrazioni<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"Anthropologie Agate Cheese Board, SHOP NOw<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

All products featured on GRAZIA are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Grazia may earn an affiliate commission. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26633,"featured_media":24203,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[38,16],"yoast_head":"\nGRAZIA's At Home City Guide To Messina, Italy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In a new series, GRAZIA commissions artists from all over the world to illustrate the cities they see outside their window \u2013 and reimagine them in their pre-pandemic glory. 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