04/14/2026
Lanterna di Messina (also known as the Lanterna del Montorsoli).
It is a historic lighthouse located on the San Ranieri peninsula, the sickle-shaped strip of land that forms the natural harbor of Messina, Sicily.
Key Details:
Architecture: The structure consists of a sturdy, square stone base that was originally part of a 16th-century fortification, topped by a distinctive octagonal tower with black and white horizontal stripes.
History: It was designed in 1554 by the sculptor and architect Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, a collaborator of Michelangelo. It served a dual purpose: a lighthouse to guide ships through the treacherous Strait of Messina and a defensive watchtower.
