From the town of Messina, there is only 3.2 miles of water separating the Island of Sicily from the tip of the boot of mainland Italia. For centuries, the Strait of Messina has been a channel for seagoing vessels and ferries. It also welcomes about a half million cruise ship passengers each year. Although this channel is narrow, it has been the source of Greek myths for millenniums. Adorning the breakwater on the right is a golden Virgin Mary statue that the locals often call Madonnina.
