Webcam Messina. Cathedral Square, Cathedral
The main attraction of Messina is the Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo). Here is the Cathedral (Duomo di Messina), with a treasury museum. Nearby is the bell tower, on the walls of which there is a unique clock mechanism made in Strasbourg in 1733. In front of the cathedral there is the Orion Fountain (Fontana di Orione), dedicated to Neptune, the son of the god of the sea.
The Orion Fountain was designed by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, a follower of the great Michelangelo, to commemorate the appearance of the city's first aqueduct and dates back to the 16th century. The luxurious classical fountain is made in the form of a composition of four rivers - the Nile, the Tiber, the Ebro and the Canaro. The upper bowl of the fountain is topped with a statue of Orion, the mythical founder of Messina.
The cathedral with its striking facade dominates the square. It was built during the Norman domination of Sicily but was rebuilt later, after being destroyed by the Saracens. Then, for several centuries it was the center of religious life of the city, until in 1908 it was in ruins during the devastating earthquake that wiped Messina off the face of the earth. Only fragments of the walls remain of the original structure.
Reconstruction of the cathedral began in 1919 - the architects tried not only to adhere to the original Norman style, but also added elements of later periods. That is why today in the building you can see traces of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The facade of the cathedral is decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes of everyday life in the city in the 14th century, from tilling the fields to raising cattle.
The three entrances to the cathedral are in the Gothic style.
Of particular note is the bell tower, also built at the beginning of the 20th century, which rises to the left of the cathedral's facade. The top of the bell tower offers a spectacular view of Messina. Each side of the square bell tower is decorated with a clock with the signs of the zodiac and gold mechanical figures that move at noon.
