About
Palazzo Zanca is the neo-classical town hall of Messina, the historic port city at the northeastern tip of Sicily. It is also known simply as the Town Hall of Messina, and it sits on Via Garibaldi, a short walk from the waterfront.
A building rebuilt after disaster
The palace was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1908, which devastated Messina and much of the surrounding area. Its present form reflects that period of reconstruction, when the city set about rebuilding its civic life. The building takes its name from Giuseppe Zanca, a 19th-century mayor of the city.
What a visit offers
Palazzo Zanca is best approached as a stop on a walk through the city centre rather than as a destination in its own right. Visitors interested in architecture will find it a clear example of neo-classical civic design in a city whose modern appearance was shaped by the 1908 earthquake.
- Location: Via Garibaldi 87, 98122 Messina, Sicily
- Type of visit: a civic building viewed on foot, in the context of the city centre
- Contact: +39 090 22111
Because the palace is the seat of the town hall, it is worth checking with the city before going, particularly if you hope to enter the building, as access may depend on municipal business.
Around the palace, Messina invites exploration: the harbour, the Strait that separates Sicily from the Italian mainland, and the streets of the old centre, all within easy reach of one another.
