Piazza De Nava
The symbol of rebirth
Piazza De Nava is named after the Reggio Minister of the Kingdom of Italy, Giuseppe De Nava, who promoted the reconstruction of Reggio Calabria after the 1908 earthquake. It is a gateway to the city's historic centre, featuring Corso Garibaldi and its magnificent frame for the main facade of the Archaeological Museum. It is the third most important square in the city.
A monument, a symbol.
In the centre of the square stands the monument to Giuseppe De Nava, erected in 1936 by Francesco Jerace. The Statue of De Nava stands on a base embellished by high reliefs. The lower part of the base there has depictions of working scenes. Between the base and the statue, we can see the city’s coat of arms portraying Saint George on horseback slaying the dragon, and the coat of arms of the province of Reggio Calabria. Two shell-shaped fountains are embedded in the sides of the base.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…?
The square is dedicated to Giuseppe De Nava because – though the government wanted Reggio to be rebuilt in another location – he fought with courage and determination for the rebirth of the city exactly where it had already stood and prospered in the past. For this reason, the citizens were forever grateful to him.
A magnificent crossroads
The piazza, on a rectangular plan, is central to the four streets: Via Domenico Tripepi, Via Domenico Romeo and Via Vollaro. The fourth one is Via De Nava, obviously the main entrance to the piazza, which you access by means of three steps.
