Audio Guide of Palazzo Zanca

As the seat of City Hall, it is generally open Monday to Friday during office hours, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with afternoon openings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can check specific updates on the official Municipality of Messina website before you go.

Admission to the public areas of Palazzo Zanca is completely free, as it is a public administrative building. However, if there are special temporary exhibitions inside, they may have a small fee, although this is uncommon.

The visit is fairly quick; setting aside between 30 and 45 minutes is recommended. This is enough time to admire its neoclassical architecture, the inner atrium, and the artworks located in the common access areas.

It is a symbol of Messina’s reconstruction after the devastating 1908 earthquake. Designed by architect Antonio Zanca, it represents the neoclassical style and preserves important archaeological and artistic treasures from Sicilian history.

I recommend going in the morning, around 11:00 AM. That way you can see the interior of the palace and be right nearby to watch the astronomical clock show in the adjacent square at 12:00 noon.

Yes, as an active government building, it complies with accessibility regulations. It has access ramps and elevators to make visiting easier for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.

You are in the heart of the city; just a few steps away you will find the spectacular Messina Cathedral and its famous bell tower with the astronomical clock. Also, right in the square opposite, you can admire the historic Orion Fountain.

Do not stop at the façade; go into the atrium to see the statues and ask at reception whether the Antiquarium, a small archaeological area, is accessible that day. Remember to wear respectful clothing, as it is an institutional building.