Shrine of Christ the King

The Sacrario di Cristo Re is a memorial and religious monument in Messina, built in the 1930s to house the remains of soldiers who died in the World Wars and to overlook the city from a hilltop site.

The Sacrario di Cristo Re is located on a hill in Messina along Viale Principe Umberto, on the site where the medieval Castle of Roccaguelfonia (Matagrifone) once stood.

It was built in the 1930s and inaugurated in 1937, designed by engineer Francesco Barbaro, as a memorial shrine dedicated to the fallen of both World Wars.

The building has an octagonal plan and is topped by a large dome supported by eight ribs. At its base stand eight bronze statues by sculptor Teofilo Raggio, representing the theological and cardinal virtues along with the allegory of Religion.

Above the entrance staircase is a statue of Christ the King, while inside the structure contains numerous burial niches holding the remains of fallen soldiers.

The site also carries strong historical significance due to its connection with the medieval fortress of Matagrifone, of which only limited traces remain today.

Today, it is both a memorial site and one of the most important panoramic viewpoints over the Strait of Messina