Messina, near the north-east corner of Sicily, was the most important town in the Val Demone. Since ancient times ‘grande histoire’ and local history have been intertwined in the Straits of Messina. In fact, thanks to its geographical position, the city was the meeting point both for the ships sailing between East and West Mediterranean, and for coastal navigation between the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian Seas. Products and merchandise coming from and go- ing to Sicily, Calabria and many ports in the Mediterranean Sea passed through the port of Messina, which was the main trading place in Sicily. Because Messina was isolated from the food-producing interior areas of Sicily, its survival depended on trade along the coasts. Its hinterland yield- ed very few cereals, so it was driven to trade in order to pay for grain and other staple goods coming from the Val di Mazara and Val di Noto. Messina was hemmed against the sea by the Peloritani Mountains, making its real hinterland of Messina the sea: its port was a natural shelter for ships and vessels of all kinds and had been a commercial emporium for centuries.

The Port of Messina, 1591-1783

BOTTARI, Salvatore
2010-01-01

Abstract

Messina, near the north-east corner of Sicily, was the most important town in the Val Demone. Since ancient times ‘grande histoire’ and local history have been intertwined in the Straits of Messina. In fact, thanks to its geographical position, the city was the meeting point both for the ships sailing between East and West Mediterranean, and for coastal navigation between the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian Seas. Products and merchandise coming from and go- ing to Sicily, Calabria and many ports in the Mediterranean Sea passed through the port of Messina, which was the main trading place in Sicily. Because Messina was isolated from the food-producing interior areas of Sicily, its survival depended on trade along the coasts. Its hinterland yield- ed very few cereals, so it was driven to trade in order to pay for grain and other staple goods coming from the Val di Mazara and Val di Noto. Messina was hemmed against the sea by the Peloritani Mountains, making its real hinterland of Messina the sea: its port was a natural shelter for ships and vessels of all kinds and had been a commercial emporium for centuries.
2010
9788890326622
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11570/1944443
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