Sacrario di Cristo Re, Baroque church in Messina, Italy.
The octagonal church features eight bronze statues representing cardinal and theological virtues, with a prominent dome topped by a six-meter-high lantern.
Built in 1937 on the site of the former Matagrifone Castle, which hosted Richard the Lionheart during his journey to the Third Crusade in 1191.
The shrine houses the remains of 1,288 World War II soldiers and 110 World War I soldiers, serving as a memorial to those who defended Sicily.
The church contains a large bronze bell, made from melted enemy cannons, which rings every evening at sunset to commemorate the fallen soldiers.
The entrance stairway displays a statue of Christ the King by sculptor Tore Edmondo Calabrò, while the portal features allegorical representations of Italy and Messina.
Location: Messina
Inception: 1937
Architects: Giovanni Battista Milani
Architectural style: baroque architecture
Website: http://sicilie.it/sicilia/Messina_-_Sacrario_di_Cristo_Re
GPS coordinates: 38.19627,15.55169
Latest update: March 7, 2025 08:45
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