Sicily, Italy (Messina)

Uncovering authentic local finds and having experiences that make you feel like you’ve really connected with a place are important elements in ensuring an extraordinary vacation. We’re taking advantage of our partnership with Travel + Leisure to get their editors’ recommendations and insider tips on the places you will want to visit. Here are their picks for just one of the 150 destinations they covered.

Must-Sees from the Editors of
Travel + Leisure

Museo Regionale Maria Accascina
It may be difficult to find, but this former silk spinning mill, which houses one of Sicily’s best art collections with a focus on 15th- to 17th-century works, rewards the persistent. While it’s best known for two large Caravaggio masterpieces, the 19th-century building also holds pieces by Sicilian artists Antonello da Messina and Girolamo Alibrandi; a serene garden pavilion is dotted with architectural fragments from the 15th and 16th centuries.

Mount Etna and Taormina with Celebrity Cruises
Travelers can walk the rims of sunken craters located 6,000 feet above sea level on Sicily’s Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. Be sure to bring good walking shoes, plenty of water, and a camera—views from the top of the 1 1/2-mile trek are heart-stopping.

Orologio Astronomico
Built in 1933, this astronomical clock, located on the bell tower of Messina’s Duomo, puts on a show to the tune of Schubert's Ave Maria every day at noon. It’s considered the largest clock of its kind in the world, making its surprising performance—you’ll see bronze figures (each has mythical or historic significance to the area) ringing bells, a lion roaring, even Jesus popping out of a tomb—even more enjoyable. Town Center.

Be sure to visit our Shore Excursions page or speak with our onboard Destination Concierge for arrangements to any of these must-sees.

To learn more about this exciting port, please refer to our Port Explorer guide.