Palazzo dei Leoni (Palace of the Lions), Messina

The Palace of the Lions (Palazzo dei Leoni) is a historic government building, serving as the seat of the Provincial Administration. Built between 1915 and 1918, the palace was designed by architect Alessandro Giunta to replace the Casa Professa dei Gesuiti, a 16th-century Jesuit building that previously housed the provincial council but was destroyed in the 1908 Messina earthquake. The new structure was officially inaugurated on July 21, 1918, marking a significant step in the city’s reconstruction after one of the most devastating natural disasters in Italian history.

The building’s imposing neoclassical design, with its elegant façade and grand architectural details, reflects the early 20th-century vision of restoring Messina’s lost heritage while introducing modernized institutional spaces.

Today, the Palace of the Lions continues to house local government offices and serves as a hub for public administration and civic affairs. Beyond its political role, the palace is admired for its architectural beauty and historical significance.