Bank of Italy

The Bank of Italy is an eight-story building in downtown Fresno featuring Renaissance Revival style with ornate terra cotta details. The structure combines concrete and steel with classical elements, including marble floors, decorated spandrel panels along Fulton Mall, and elaborately designed first-floor window trims.

Charles Franklin designed the building in 1917 in Renaissance Revival style during a period of economic expansion in Fresno. Its construction was part of a wave of financial institutions that developed downtown and reflected the region's growing prosperity.

The building displays craftsmanship from the 1910s with detailed decorations that reflect the prosperity of that era. Visitors can observe carefully designed details on doors, windows, and walls that show the skills of local artisans working at the time.

The building is located on Fulton Mall in downtown Fresno and is accessible for viewing from outside, though it is currently unoccupied. The best time to visit is during daytime when natural light shows the architectural details on the facade and first-floor windows most clearly.

The structure retains an original wall clock from its founding year, a rare surviving fixture that reflects the building's attention to detail. This functional decoration serves as a quiet reminder of the craftsmanship invested in both practical and aesthetic elements of the design.

Location: Fresno

Inception: August 1918

Architects: Charles B. Franklin

Architectural style: Renaissance Revival architecture

Floors above the ground: 8

GPS coordinates: 36.73690,-119.79500

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:42