Strait of Messina

The Strait of Messina separates Sicily from the toe of the Italian peninsula, joining the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Ionian. Its narrow waters are known for strong currents and whirlpools, where opposing flows meet between the two shores. Greek legend placed Scylla on the Calabrian side and Charybdis on the Sicilian side, threatening sailors forced to pass between them. Messina and Reggio face one another across this short but turbulent crossing.