The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele III in Messina is a building constructed between 1924 and 1929 to a design by architect, Camillo Puglisi Allegra. Since 2000, it has been classified as being of historical and artistic interest because it “constitutes a significant example of eclectic 20th-century residential and office architecture”. There are restaurants and cocktail bars inside, making it one of the city’s main nightlife venues.
History of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele III
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is one of four buildings around Piazza Antonello in Messina. The four palazzi were built as part of the city’s reconstruction following the destruction caused by the 1908 earthquake. Even though they were built in different years, they work together in harmony. The first building to be completed was the Palazzo delle Poste in 1913, designed by architect Vittorio Mariani. The Palazzo della Provincia, designed by Alessandro Giunta and built on the area once occupied by the Knights Templar complex, was inaugurated in 1918. Construction of the Town Hall was completed in 1924 under the direction of Palermo architect, Antonio Zanca. Finally, in 1929, the Galleria dedicated to Vittorio Emanuele III was inaugurated on 13 August at the same time as the Cathedral. The building was designed by architect, Camillo Puglisi Allegra, and financed by the Società Generale Elettrica della Sicilia (General Electric Company of Sicily). The company’s aim was to provide a suitable location for its offices and create a residential and commercial hub in the heart of the city.
Architecture of the Galleria di Messina
Stylistically, the Galleria has ornamental elements that can be placed between Eclecticism and Déco and is divided into three ‘Y’ shaped sections that converge at the centre into a hexagon topped with a glass dome. The roof is formed by a double vault with a metal frame supporting the stained glass windows. The main entrance is located on Piazza Antonello and is preceded by a portico with an impressive arch marked by robust pilasters. Since 2000, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Messina has been listed as an asset of historic-artistic interest under former Law 1089/39 because it “constitutes a significant example of eclectic 20th-century residential and office architecture, characterised by its plastic-decorative features both inside and out”.
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