Which strait lies between Sicily and mainland Italy?

The Strait of Messina lies between Sicily and mainland Italy.

It separates Sicily from Calabria and connects the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north with the Ionian Sea to the south. The strait is narrow, has strong tidal currents, and is crossed by frequent ferry services, especially between Messina and Villa San Giovanni.

Ancient Greek writers associated the area with Scylla and Charybdis, two legendary hazards in Greek mythology. The myth reflects the real navigational difficulty created by currents and whirlpools, although the modern strait is regularly navigated.

The Strait of Messina is not the same as the Strait of Bonifacio, which separates Corsica from Sardinia. A bridge across the Strait of Messina has been proposed repeatedly, but ferry transport remains the established connection between Sicily and mainland Italy.