Piazza Giuseppe De Nava is one of the main squares in the historic centre of Reggio Calabria, facing the main façade of the National Archaeological Museum and giving access, on its north side, to Corso Garibaldi, the city's main street.
What to see
The square, rectangular in plan and with a slight slope towards the sea, is named after Giuseppe De Nava, a native of Reggio who served as a minister of the Kingdom of Italy in 1918 and 1921, in recognition of the moral integrity and human qualities he showed throughout his life; it is bordered by a row of low smooth stone pillars linked by horizontal bars, and is reached mainly by three steps on its south side, as well as from the surrounding streets.
At the centre, among palms, orange trees and Liberty-style lampposts, stands the monument to Giuseppe De Nava, a work by the sculptor Francesco Jerace erected in 1936: the minister's statue rests on a richly carved base with high reliefs depicting scenes of labour, flanked by two coats of arms, one showing Saint George on horseback slaying the dragon and the other the province's arms, and by two shell-shaped fountains pouring water into semicircular basins.
Visiting
The square is always accessible and makes a good starting point for visiting the National Archaeological Museum and Corso Garibaldi.
Our editors' tip
Sit for a few minutes by one of the two shell-shaped fountains: the sound of the water, together with the shade of the palms, makes this square one of the coolest spots in the historic centre on hot days.
